BritRail Pass Do's & Don'ts

Rail Pass Do!

1. Always make sure you get your BritRail pass validated on or before your first day of travel. Any railway station ticket window will do this for you.

2. Have your passport with you handy at all times. Conductors will ask for your passport to compare with your rail pass.

3. Keep your rail pass in a safe dry place, and if you have pass security, always keep it separate from your rail pass.

4. Make sure everything is correct on your pass before using it (names, dates, country of residence). Travelers have had passes taken away in the past due to discrepancies.

5. Always enter the dates of travel in blue / black ink.

6. Always make sure to make reservations beforehand for the trains that require them. Normally train in the UK do not require reservations. However, it is recommended that you make reservations at certain times such as weekends or holidays

Rail Pass Don't!

1. Do not validate your BritRail pass yourself. This must be done at the railway station and in the presence of a railway official. If you validate your rail pass yourself, it could be taken away.

2. BritRail passes are non transferable. Do not let anyone use your pass. If someone else is caught using your rail pass, it will be taken away.

3. Do not alter or tamper with your rail pass in any way. If a railway conductor feels that the pass has been tampered with, he will take it away and you could be subject to a heavy fine payable in local currency.

4. Do not use pencil or erasable pen to fill in the dates. Conductors are aware of the use of erasable pens.

5. Always remember to write in the correct dates of travel. If done incorrectly, you could lose days of rail travel. The moral here is "Always be sure of when you want to travel". "If in doubt, leave it out"

6. If fined for doing any of the above, do not argue or refuse to pay, the consequences could become much worse.