FAQs - Japan Rail Pass

Frequently Asked questions/FAQs on train or rail passes in Japan
(that you can book & buy in Malaysia):

+ Buying the pass

Q. How far in advance can I buy my pass?
A. The pass can be purchased up to 11 months before your first travel day. The pass must be validated within 11 months of the original date of issue

Q. Does the passenger's name on the pass need to match the name on the passport?
A. Yes

Q. Is a rail pass transferable to another person in the event the passholder is not able to travel?
A. Passes are non-transferable as travellers name appears on the Railpass, and are valid for 11 months from the date of purchase, which offers you the opportunity to reschedule your trip

Q. Can I buy my pass in Europe?
A. Some passes may be purchased in Europe at a higher cost. It is best to place your order before you depart home.

Q. Would I qualify for a railpass if I have a Malaysian passport, but am a permanent resident of UK.
A. Passes cannot be sold to residents of Europe, the UK, Morocco, Turkey, or any of the countries of the former Soviet Union. Passes are based on residency not citizenship, and the country of your residence will be printed on the rail pass.

Q. What is the difference between 1st Class and 2nd Class?
A. 1st Class seats often recline, there are fewer seats per car (also known as coach), and there is more space for luggage. On some high-speed trains, the price of a 1st Class ticket includes a meal. 1st class is generally quieter with more business and adult passengers. 2nd Class seats are less expensive, but not as spacious, as there are more seats per car.

Q. What is a saverpass?
A. A saverpass is a discount rate for a group of 2-5 passengers travelling together at all times. All names will be printed on a single pass, therefore passengers will not be able to travel independently.

Q. What is a youth pass?
A. From 1st January 2017, a youth pass is valid for any traveller who is 12-27 (above 12; under 28) years of age. (Note: previously it was 12-25 years).

+ Pass for family, children, seniors & students

Q. Are there family passes?
A. There are few passes that offer a discount for families such as the Swiss passes and some Britail passes.

Q. How much are railpasses for children? How much are rail fares for children?
A. Rail passes for children are generally half the adult fare. Some passes do not offer a child pass. Child tickets are offered on most trains and vary by train type. Children up to 4 years, usually travel for free when accompanied by an adult. For Eurail Global Pass, children up to 12 years, travel for free.

Q. Are there discounts for seniors?
A. Travellers aged 60 years (before the first day of travel) and over are considered as Seniors and can benefit from special discounts on some Passes.

Q. Are there student discounts?
A. No, there are no student discounts. Discounts are offered to youth travellers instead. A youth is any traveller who is 12 to 27 (above 12; under 28) years of age.

NOTE:
(I) AGE LIMIT The world is diverse, so age limits vary according to the pass or the country you are travelling in.
(II) ISSUANCE FEES per person (subject to change): From €5.00 per Eurailpass; from €5.00 per sector (seat reservation); from €5.00 per point-to-point ticket

+ Validating the pass

Q. When does my railpass start?
A. With most passes the pass will start when you get your pass validated by a rail official.

Q. What does validation mean?
A. Validation of your pass is having a Rail Official at the train station stamp your pass as valid.

Q. How do I validate or activate my railpass?
A. To begin using your pass, go to the ticket window at the rail station before boarding your first train and have a railroad official (not the conductor) enter the first and last day of the validity on your pass. The railroad official will also stamp your pass and you will have to show your passport.

And before boarding the first train of the day, the pass holder must enter the date of use in black or blue ink (not pencil) in the corresponding box of the calendar, in chronological order.

Passengers are subject to a fine in local currency if they are found travelling with a pass that has not been validated or with a pass on which the date in the corresponding box in the calendar has not been entered.

+ Using the pass

Q. How many days constitute a railpass month?
A. A railpass month is counted as a calendar month. For example, a pass that begins on July 15th will expire at midnight on August 14th .

Q. How is a railpass day calculated?
A. A rail day lasts from midnight to midnight. You can take as many trains as you wish during this time.

Q. If I take an overnight train, do I have to use 2 days on my pass?
A. Use the 7 p.m. rule. If you board a direct overnight train that departs after 7 p.m. and arrives after 4 a.m., then you use only 1 day on your pass (and do make sure to indicate the next day's date in the calendar).

The 7 p.m. rule only applies after the activation date of your pass. For example, if your Eurail pass is activated from August 6, you cannot use the 7 p.m. rule on the evening of August 5. If your overnight train requires a train change before midnight, then you will use 2 travel days.

Q. What is the difference between a consecutive and flexi pass?
A. A continuous or consecutive-day pass requires you to travel every day during the validity of your pass. A flexi pass is for you to travel (consecutively or non-consecutively) on the dates of your choice within a certain period of time (usually one or two months). Example: A "Eurail Global Pass 15 Days" is a "consecutive" pass while "Eurail Global Pass 15 Days within 2 months" is a "flexi" pass.

Q. What does 8 Days within 2 Months mean in a Select Pass?
A. Many passes offer travel days that are flexible. The 8 days of travel allow the traveler to choose the days that they want to travel in a 2 month time period.

Example: If a pass is valid from July 1 to August 31: The traveler can then select 8 dates to travel on the train from July 1 to August 31. The days can be consecutive or non consecutive.

Q. I've purchased a One Country Pass, what do I do if I decide to visit an additional, bordering country?
A. Your railpass covers you to the border city of the country you are travelling in. You will need to purchase additional tickets to travel in any country not covered on your pass.

Q. Can I go back and forth between the countries that are on my pass?
A. Yes, you may travel as many times are you like between countries that are on your pass.

Q. Can I also travel within the countries on my pass?
A. Yes, you may travel as many times as you like before Midnight on a travel day.

Q. Is a railpass valid for travel on city transportation systems?
A. In most cases, railpasses are not accepted on city transportation systems such as buses and subways. Passes will generally cover local commuter trains that are above ground. The exception to this is the Swiss Pass, which is valid for transportation in 37 Swiss cities.

+ Seat reservation

Q. Do I need to make reservations if I have a pass?
A. Yes, you may need to make reservation. All trains that travel internationally will require reservations. All night trains and high-speed trains will require reservations. Most trains in these countries will require reservations: France, Spain, and Italy.

Q. Can a seat reservation be made with a 2nd Class ticket?
A. Yes

Q. Is it possible to avoid reservations or extra charges?
A. Yes, depending on the country you are travelling in. Generally, there are local trains that travel the same route as high-speed trains, however they normaly take much longer to travel the same route. You will need to weigh the cost of a reservation compared with the time it will take to travel the same route. Example: Lyon to Marseille is generally about 1 hour 45 minutes on the TGV. Local train for this same route would be about 3.5 hours. (A TGV reservation is from €9 per person).

Q. Can I request seat facing forward?
A. Unfortunately, you cannot request a forward-facing seat. Trains generally pull into a station in one direction, and pull out in another direction and seat positions change, depending on the train.

Q. What kinds of sleeping arrangement is available on overnight trains?
A. Sleeper and Couchette compartments.

Q. What are the differences between a Sleeper and Couchette compartment on overnight trains?
A. Sleeper compartments have proper beds and amenities (washbasin, towel & toiletries)*. Sleepers are in 1, 2, 3, and sometimes 4-bed arrangement. A couchette (pronounced "koo-shet") is normally only in 2nd Class. A couchette accommodates 4 or 6 passengers, male and female, and offers no amenities.

Keep in mind that some compartments are gender specific unless the compartment is fully booked. (*) Private shower & toilet can sometimes be found with certain overnight trains when the Premier fare is booked.

+ Amenities on the trains

Q. Is there a limit for luggage trains?
A. The standard of amount of luggage is 2 large items per person. Trains have either overhead storage racks throughout the car, storage room behind the back of your seat or luggage areas at the end of the car. There is no porter service available and all passengers are responsible for putting their own luggage on the train.

Note: Luggage kept by the passenger and placed in the luggage racks remains under the sole responsibility of the traveller. The railroads assume no responsibility in case of loss, damage or theft.

Q. Are dining cars available on all trains in Europe?
A. Dining cars are available on most long distance trains. Normally, you can just walk into most dining cars, sit down, and eat without a reservation, but you are welcome to make a reservation for a meal when mealtime is busy, or when the train attendant announces the opening of the dining car. If your train does not have a dining car, it is likely to offer passengers a buffet bar car. On local trains, there may be an attendant with a snack cart who travels from car to car, selling snacks and beverages. Train Dining cars are part of the train experience and is unrivaled by any other means of transportation. In some trains the quality of the food and wine is up to the standard of a gourmet restaurant.

Q. Is there a non-smoking section on the train?
A. Yes, non-smoking cars are available on all trains. Most high-speed trains are now completely non-smoking coaches when both options are available. There is no smoking on all trains in France, Italy, Norway, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Switzerland.

Q. Will there be a bathroom on the train?
A. Bathroom are easily accessible on all the trains and are usually marked with the letters WC. Bathroom can usually be found at the front or back of each train car and will include a sink, toilet and a locking door.

Q. Will there be shower facilities on the train?
A. Shower facilities are generally not offered on trains in Europe. However, private showers can sometimes be found with certain overnight trains when the Premier fares are booked.

+ Eurostar

Eurostar is a high speed train that directly links the UK to France and Belgium via the Channel Tunnel (beneath the English Channel).

Q. Is Eurostar included with my railpass?
A. From 1st January 2017, Eurail Pass holders will be accepted on Eurostar trains, on participating routes. A seat reservation with pass holder fee is applicable.

Q. How often does Eurostar run?
A. From London to Paris and vice versa, Eurostar offers frequent service; London to Lille & Brussels and vice versa, service is offered approximately every 2 hours. Eurostar also offers services to Disneyland Paris and the French Alps (ski season).

Q. How many pieces of luggage are we permitted to carry on Eurostar?
A. Each Passenger is allowed 2 pieces of luggage (85cm at their maximum length) and 1 carry-on bag.

Q. What is the minimum time allowed for check-in time on Eurostar?
A. The minimum check-in time for passengers with Business Premier tickets is 10 minutes. For passengers holding standard tickets, check-in time is 30 minutes. But it is advisable to arrive at the station with time to spare

Q. How old do you have to be to qualify for Senior Fare on Eurostar?
A. A passenger qualifies for Senior Fares at age 60 and over.

Q. Can a passenger take a car on Eurostar ?
A. No, Eurostar does not transport cars. You can transport your car on Eurotunnel.

Note: All of the above information and rates are subject to change without prior notice.

+ Point to point ticket

POINT TO POINT TICKET between 2 cities (in a single country or across borders) on regular and high speed trains such as Eurostar, TGV, AVE, ICE and etc is also available.