Interrail on Eurostar: What You Need to Know
If you’re an Interrail pass holder planning on using the Eurostar to travel through Europe, there are a few things you need to know. In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using an Interrail pass on the Eurostar, including how much the passholder fare is, reservation requirements, which Interrail pass you need, and where you can make a seat reservation.
How much is the Eurostar passholder fare?
The Eurostar passholder fare is a discounted fare available exclusively to Interrail pass holders. The fare varies depending on the class of travel and destination. London to Lille, Paris, or Brussels costs €30 in standard class and €38 in first class. London to Rotterdam or Amsterdam costs €35 in standard class and €43 in first class. It’s not possible to purchase a “return”, you simply need to make two one-way reservations.
Reservation Requirements
Interrail pass holders are required to make a seat reservation in addition to having a valid Interrail pass. Therefore, using the Eurostar counts as an Interrail travel day. This is because the Eurostar is a high-speed train with limited capacity, and reservations are required to ensure everyone has a seat. You cannot just turn up for the Eurostar; it’s essential that you book one of the limited number of seat reservations for Interrailers. Bookings can be made up to 6 months in advance.
Which Interrail pass do I need to travel on the Eurostar?
To travel on the Eurostar with an Interrail pass, you’ll need an Interrail Global Pass, which allows you to travel in 33 countries across Europe. If you have a One Country Pass, you won’t be able to use it on the Eurostar.
Bear in mind the inbound/outbound journey rule. If you live in the UK, using the Eurostar will count as either your inbound or outbound journey (you are permitted one of each). You can combine the Eurostar journey with other train journeys in the same travel day, of course. For example, you could travel from Leeds to London at 6am -> London to Paris at 10am -> Paris to Lyon at 2pm and it would all count as one travel day, as well as staying within the rules of the inbound/outbound journey, and the same vice versa. You wouldn’t be able to travel down to London on your Interrail pass then stay over then get the Eurostar the next day using your Interrail pass; only one of those journeys would be valid on your Interrail pass.
If you have a 2nd class Interrail pass, you need to choose standard class. If you have a 1st class Interrail pass, you can choose to book either standard class or first class.
How to make a Eurostar seat reservation with an Interrail pass
To make a seat reservation for the Eurostar, you can book via the Interrail Reservations Service, SNCB, or Rail Europe. We recommend booking via Rail Europe because there are no booking fees and you can choose your seat. You can search for available trains without needing to enter your Interrail pass number, which is useful for planning your trip.
When you have purchased your Interrail pass and are ready to reserve a Eurostar seat, you can book it via SNCB’s website, who charge a €4 booking fee, or on Rail Europe without the booking fee. Once purchased, you can access your ticket within the Eurostar app and even change your seat.
In conclusion, using an Interrail pass on the Eurostar is a convenient and affordable way to travel through Europe. If you have an Interrail Global Pass, you’ll be able to travel on the Eurostar (if you book a seat reservation in advance!) and enjoy the discounted Interrail passholder fare. Happy travels!
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