Train travel FAQs by country

Choose a country, departure and arrival stations, travel date and passenger count. Search for a journey, compare the available seat or berth options, then review passenger details, the total price and fare conditions before paying. Check the exact station names, especially in cities with several terminals.

Payment confirmation and ticket issuance are separate steps. Check the order status and the ticket or collection instructions supplied for your journey. A payment receipt alone is not a boarding ticket. If your travel date is approaching and the ticket is still pending, contact support with your order number.

Check your order page and the email address entered at checkout, including the spam folder. Depending on the rail product, you may receive an electronic ticket, a voucher or collection instructions. Follow the instructions for your particular booking; do not assume that every QR code can be scanned directly at a gate.

Use the payment methods offered on your checkout page. Availability can depend on currency, device and payment provider. Review the final amount and currency before confirming; your bank may apply its own exchange rate or foreign transaction fee. If payment status is unclear, check the existing order before trying again.

Eligibility, deadlines and fees depend on the operator, route, fare and ticket status. Read the conditions shown before purchase and the refund policy, then contact support about your booking. Sending a request does not confirm a change or refund, and unused or missed tickets are not automatically refundable.

Enter the correct passenger count and provide ages when requested. Child fare rules differ by country and operator and may also depend on height, age on the travel date, or whether the child needs a separate seat or berth. Check the selected product before paying; one country’s child discount does not apply everywhere.

No results can mean that sales have not opened, seats are unavailable, the station pair is unsupported, or search data could not be loaded. Check the date and exact stations, then try nearby dates or another service. An empty result does not by itself prove that the railway runs no trains on that route.

Contact support before purchase with the route, date and assistance or luggage requirements. Accessible spaces, boarding assistance, bicycles, pets and oversized items follow operator-specific rules and may need separate arrangements. A standard seat booking does not confirm those services.

Submit your refund request at least 2 hours before departure. A 20% cancellation fee is deducted from the refund. Open the booking in My Order and submit a refund request, or contact support for help. A submitted request is not a completed refund; check your order status and email for the outcome. The time for funds to reach your account depends on your payment provider.

Tickets are processed within 30 minutes during issuing hours: daily 06:00–23:00 Japan time (UTC+9), for tickets already on sale. The Japan railway system is under maintenance from 23:00 to 06:00 the next day. No tickets are issued during this period. Orders are processed after issuing resumes at 06:00; maintenance time is excluded from the 30-minute processing window. Advance bookings for tickets not yet on sale are processed once railway sales open. Check the advance-booking details for your selected ticket.

For the Tokaido Shinkansen, Tokyo and Shinagawa serve Tokyo, Kyoto Station serves Kyoto, and Shin-Osaka serves Osaka. Osaka Station and Shin-Osaka are different stations. Check the departure and arrival station printed on your ticket and allow time for local transport to or from the Shinkansen terminal.

Ordinary and Green Car describe accommodation classes; Green Car is the premium class on eligible trains. Reserved seats are assigned to a specific service and seat, while non-reserved travel follows the rules of the purchased ticket and available non-reserved cars. Not every service offers non-reserved seating, so check the exact product.

Only use a QR code for direct boarding when your ticket instructions explicitly say it is a boarding code. Some products provide a collection code that must be exchanged for tickets at a compatible machine or counter first. Read the issued instructions before entering the gates and allow time for collection if required.

The Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen have specific oversized-baggage rules. Measure your suitcase and check JR’s current guidance for your train and the type of baggage space before booking. A normal reserved seat does not automatically reserve an oversized-baggage space; confirm the suitable option before purchase.

No. A point-to-point ticket covers the journey and conditions shown on that ticket. A Japan Rail Pass is a separate product with eligibility, validity and service restrictions; some services require an additional ticket under the pass rules. Compare your actual itinerary with the official pass conditions before choosing.

Ask station staff and contact support with your ticket details before boarding another train. Later-train travel, changes and refunds depend on the fare and service purchased. Do not assume that a missed reserved-seat ticket lets you use any later train or seat.

Bangkok has several rail terminals, including Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, Hua Lamphong and Thon Buri. The correct terminal depends on your service. Use the exact station on your issued ticket rather than searching for “Bangkok station” in a map, and plan the transfer to that terminal.

Compare the departure time, journey duration and accommodation offered for the selected train. A seat and a sleeper berth are different products; sleeper listings may distinguish upper and lower berths, air conditioning and cabin class. Book the option you actually need and confirm the issued berth details, especially when travelling together.

Bring the travel document used for the booking and the ticket in the format required by your instructions. Check the passenger name, train number, travel date, carriage and seat or berth. If the supplied document requires collection or printing, complete that step before boarding.

A rail-only ticket ends at the station shown on the ticket. Transfers from Surat Thani railway station to a pier and ferries to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or Koh Tao are separate unless your product explicitly includes them. Allow for station-to-pier travel, ferry check-in and possible train delays when planning the connection.

Check SRT’s baggage conditions for your class and service before travelling. Storage differs by carriage, so keep aisles and exits clear and keep valuables with you. Large items, bicycles or extra baggage may require arrangements beyond a passenger ticket; ask before booking if you need these.

Search as soon as your itinerary is settled, especially for overnight trains and holiday travel. Sales opening dates and available berths vary by service and journey. A route guide is not a live inventory list; check the actual travel date and consider another berth type or departure if your preferred option is unavailable.

Use the precise station name on your ticket. Hanoi may appear as Ha Noi, and the main railway station in Ho Chi Minh City is commonly listed as Sai Gon. Do not substitute an airport, bus station or another rail stop with a similar city name. Confirm the station address before travelling there.

A soft seat is a seated travel option; a sleeper berth provides a place to lie down on eligible trains. Cabin capacity, upper or lower berth, air conditioning and facilities depend on the carriage product. One berth normally means one place, not exclusive use of the whole cabin; read the product description before booking.

Rail journeys for Sapa commonly use Lao Cai station, followed by a road transfer to Sapa. Check that your ticket’s arrival station is Lao Cai and arrange the onward transfer separately unless it is explicitly included. Leave time for the road journey when planning hotel check-in or tours.

Follow the delivery instructions for the specific rail or carriage product. If an electronic boarding ticket is supplied, keep it readable and available offline; if collection or a printed document is required, arrange it before departure. Bring the travel document matching the booking and check all passenger and journey details.

Yes. Long-distance railway journeys can be affected by delays, and separate flight, bus or tour bookings may not protect a missed connection. Use the current timetable for your train and leave a practical buffer for arrival, leaving the station and reaching the next departure point. Avoid relying on a tight connection.

Tet is a busy domestic travel period, so check availability early once sales open for your journey. Keep alternative dates, trains or accommodation types in mind. Confirm the final ticket and fare conditions before making dependent plans; a search result or booking request is not a guarantee of a particular berth.

Select the station for your specific Laos–China Railway journey and use the ticket’s full station name when arranging transport. Railway stations may be outside the main tourist area. In Vientiane, different rail services can use different terminals, so confirm the exact station rather than giving a driver only the city name.

Provide the passenger details requested for your selected train exactly as they appear on the travel document. Carry the original document used for the booking for identity checks. If you notice an error in a name or document number, contact support before travel; do not assume that identity details can be changed at the gate.

The available booking window depends on the train, route and sales channel. Search your intended date and read whether the product is an issued ticket or a request awaiting release and confirmation. Payment or an advance request does not guarantee that a specific train and seat have already been secured.

Allow time to reach the correct station, complete any required ticket collection, pass security and have your identity checked. Follow the arrival and boarding deadlines supplied with your ticket. Check current restrictions on luggage and prohibited items before packing, especially aerosols, sharp objects and other restricted goods.

No. A domestic ticket only covers its stated journey. Cross-border travel requires a suitable international service and the documents and entry permissions required for your nationality and itinerary. Check the relevant immigration authorities before purchase; a train ticket does not grant a visa or permission to enter either country.

Seats together depend on the selected product and remaining inventory. Submit passengers in the same booking when appropriate and ask about any specific seating need before paying. A seating request is a preference until the issued ticket confirms carriage and seat numbers.

Al Boraq is ONCF’s high-speed service, while Al Atlas serves conventional intercity journeys. They are different train products, so compare the actual itinerary, service and class shown in search. A journey involving both services may require a connection; do not assume every Moroccan route is a direct high-speed trip.

No. Casa Voyageurs and Casa Port are separate Casablanca stations. Select the exact station for your itinerary and check it again on your issued ticket. Airport and onward rail connections depend on the service, so allow time if your travel plan requires moving between stations.

Search the full journey for your date and check whether the itinerary includes a change between train services. Review every departure station, connection and ticket segment rather than assuming one train runs through. If you book separate tickets, allow a buffer and check what happens if the first service is delayed.

Compare the class description, price and conditions for the train you are booking. Cabin layout and facilities vary by service, and a higher class does not automatically mean a more flexible fare. Use the issued carriage and seat details where provided, and check change or cancellation terms separately.

Follow the issued ticket’s boarding instructions and keep the ticket readable for inspection. Verify the travel date, train, departure station and any assigned seat before you go. A booking confirmation or payment receipt is not a substitute for the issued travel ticket; complete any stated collection step first.

No single change or refund rule applies to every fare. Conditions can vary by fare type, service and how close you are to departure. Review the terms of the ticket sold through 9Rail and contact support before the applicable deadline. General operator information does not override the conditions of your purchased product.

9Rail only offers Swiss departures at least one hour in the future. The cutoff uses Switzerland’s local time and is checked again when the fare is selected and confirmed. Search a later departure if your original train is no longer available.

Child eligibility and fares depend on the traveller’s age on the travel date and the selected service. Enter each age when searching and the matching date of birth at checkout so the quoted party and booked passengers agree.

Travel class and fare flexibility are separate choices. Open the available fares for the selected journey and review the change and refund conditions for that exact option. A more expensive class does not automatically include free changes.

Open the itinerary details and review every segment, station and connection time. Departure and arrival times are local to the stations. Confirm that the selected fare covers the complete journey you intend to book before continuing.

A payment confirmation records your payment and is not the issued train ticket. Follow the delivery and boarding instructions provided with your issued ticket, keep it readable for inspection and verify the date, station and passenger details before travel.

Availability and fares can change after a search. The booking flow checks your selected fare again before creating the order. If the price or conditions change, review the updated details and explicitly accept them before you continue to payment.

Choose the exact station from the live station list, then check the departure and arrival names again before paying. City-centre and airport stations are separate stops; allow enough time for any transfer between them.

Child eligibility and fares depend on the traveller’s age on the travel date and the selected service. Enter each age when searching and the matching date of birth at checkout so the quoted party and booked passengers agree.

Travel class and fare flexibility are separate choices. Open the available fares for the selected journey and review the change and refund conditions for that exact option. A more expensive class does not automatically include free changes.

Open the itinerary details and review every segment, station and connection time. Departure and arrival times are local to the stations. Confirm that the selected fare covers the complete journey you intend to book before continuing.

A payment confirmation records your payment and is not the issued train ticket. Follow the delivery and boarding instructions provided with your issued ticket, keep it readable for inspection and verify the date, station and passenger details before travel.

Availability and fares can change after a search. The booking flow checks your selected fare again before creating the order. If the price or conditions change, review the updated details and explicitly accept them before you continue to payment.