Validation of Passes
The holder chooses the day on which the validity of the pass will begin. This date together with the last date of validity, can be entered on the pass by the Issuing Office already when the pass is issued. Alternatively, the pass holder has to present the unvalidated pass at a DB ticket window for validation by DB staff before the first train ride.
An inspector on international trains may also validate a pass when the holder of the German Rail Pass arrives in Germany in a train from abroad. In that case, the starting date for validity to be shown on the pass is the date on which it is inspected. The passenger is not allowed to validate his/her pass by him/herself.
In the following, a "validated pass", is understood to be a pass showing:
- the first and last day of the validity period,
- the number of the passport (or travel document substituting a passport)
The pass must be validated in blue or black ink using a fountain or ballpoint pen. The passenger may not begin his/her first journey before 00:00h (0:00am) on the first day of validity of his pass. The last journey must end at the latest at 24h00h (12:00pm) of the last day of validity of the pass. The date and time taken into account are those stated in the official timetables for arrival at the destination station.
A passenger who has not entered the date of travel in the box provided on the calendar on his/her pass before beginning is/her journey may be liable for a fine or asked to leave the train.
Using the Pass
The German Rail Pass entitles the holder to travel throughout Germany on trains operated by DB and other private train operating companies. Check on the website www.diebefoerderer.de for the validity of the German Rail Pass on the lines of private carriers.
All German Rail Passes, with the exception of the "Youth" offer (see Article 4) may be issued for travelling in 1st or 2nd class. A pass issued for 1st class allows free travel also in 2nd class.
All German Rail Passes and Twin Passes issued for 2nd class and the Youth Passes are valid for travel in 2nd class only. If a holder wants to travel in a higher class, he/she must pay the difference between the price of a 1st class ticket and that of a 2nd class ticket at the full fare for the journey concerned before the trip starts.
Holders of German Rail Passes may choose the days of travel at their own convenience. The passholder must enter the date of each travel day on the pass before boarding the first train of that day. This date must be entered by the traveller in inerasable blue or black ink or with an inerasable blue or black ballpoint pen in the corresponding box on the calendar.
Dates must be inserted in sequential order in the following manner, for example: May 27 = 27/05. Passholders can travel from midnight until midnight on the selected day. If the trip starts on board a direct overnight train departing after 19:00h (7:00pm), the next day's date must be entered; travel between 19:00h (7:00pm) and 24:00h (12:00pm) on the day of departure is then included.
However travel can never begin before 00:00h (0:00am) on the first day of validity and must be completed at the latest by 24:00h (12:00pm) on the last day of validity.
Use of high speed and quality trains / Excluded trains The German Rail Pass exempts the holder from paying a surcharge on German high speed and quality day trains such as ICE*, IC or EC. Pass holders have free access to these trains, reservations are however recommended during peak travel times.
*) Exception: ICE Sprinter trains with compulsory reservation and supplement for special on-board service.
The German Rail Pass offer is not valid on DB Autozug (Car carrying trains), chartered trains, private steam trains, narrow-gauge railways and museum railways.
Payment of additional charges
The holder must pay other charges and supplements, in particular, those levied for:
seat reservations (sometimes including services routinely offered and/or compulsory) the use of overnight accommodation, i.e. City Night Line trains (sleeperettes, couchettes, berths), other services offered on board trains (meals, beverages, etc.). With regard to the transport of luggage, holders of a German Rail Pass are subject to the same conditions as holders of ordinary tickets.
DB Lounges
German Rail Pass holders do not have access to DB Lounges.
REFUNDS
General;
All requests for refunds for passes must be made in writing by the pass holder. This request, accompanied by the pass in its cover, must be submitted, either by the holder him/herself, or by the retail agency or sales outlet, to the Issuing Office stated on the front of the pass, within a period of one year from the date of issue. No request can be accepted after this period. When a request for a refund is agreed, the sum refunded is 15 % less than the cost of the pass.
Unused passes
The Issuing Office is authorised to reply directly to these requests under the following terms:
Passes showing dates of validity;
If the pass is presented before the starting date of its period of validity, the refund is granted.
If the pass is presented during or after its period of validity, the refund is granted if it has been rendered NOT USED before the first day of validity by a DB official or a DB station ticket counter or service point. This is done by drawing two diagonal crossing lines across the front of the pass and writing on it "Nicht benutzt - Not used", signing it and datestamping it.
Partially used passes
Any pass is considered to be partly used when the holder requests its cancellation after the first day of validity. In principle, the passenger has no claim to any refund. However, the Sales Agent may contact DB for a partial refund, if the pass could not be used completely for compelling reasons (e.g. death of the traveller, serious illness of the traveller or accident). The client must present the application with all necessary proof e.g. death certificate, medical certificate, proof of repatriation or advanced return flight. These cases have to be submitted to the following address of DB, always together with the original pass:
International Rail Ltd
PO Box 153
Alresford
SO24 4AQ
Partial refund for a German Rail Twin Pass:
If one of the two persons listed on a German Rail Twin Pass decides not to travel prior to the validation of the pass, the Issuing Office has to issue a new individual pass. If the application is submitted too soon before the departure to Europe the travel agent has to cross out on the pass or on the control voucher the name of the person who will not travel, sign and stamp the date.
Upon return, an application for refund for the person who did not travel must be submitted within one year from the date of issue to the Issuing Office, which sends the request to the above mentioned address in order to obtain a partial refund. The same procedure is adopted by a DB Aid Office if the change occurs in Germany.
Passes not used / partly used due to 'force majeure' (e.g. strike or natural disaster):
A traveller who could not (or only partly) use his/her German Rail Pass due to a rail strike or natural disaster in Germany ('force majeure') must submit an application for refund to the Issuing Office. The Issuing Office sends the request to the above mentioned address of DB, submitting all necessary information and/or documents. DB will investigate the validity of the claim and, in the case of a positive result, grant a partial refund to the traveller.
Calculating the refund
DB will calculate the amount to be refunded according to the number of days of the validity used.
Passes lost or stolen
No refunds are made for lost or stolen German Rail Passes. The same applies to tickets of any sort purchased to replace lost or stolen passes.
Travel in a lower class
The passenger has no claim to any refund for travelling in a lower class.
Other situations
In situations not accounted for in the terms above the Issuing Office must submit the application to DB for decision.