If you’re like me and recently bought a Eurail pass because you were headed to Europe and can no longer go because of travel restrictions due to the coronavirus, here is what Eurail pass is currently saying.

It is important to note that even if you already have a pass, like me, you can still do something about it.

To give you a sense, Eurail is currently allowing all people who purchased their pass to trade it for a later time or get a refund for up to 85%. However, there is more to this story. 

Keep reading to find out which situation applies to you. 

How Bad is the Train Disruption in Europe Right Now?

Currently, many trains and their systems are starting to limit their schedules.

Trains to most countries in Europe are stopping or are limiting international trains to certain countries. 

Italy is currently off-limits, and France might be off-limits soon at this rate. Bulgaria has declared a state of emergency even though travel within the country continues.

For up to date information on the rail system and which countries are affected, check out Eurail.com. Eurail is updating its website with vital info as much as possible. There is a lot of info, especially if you’re already over there. But, I’m here to simplify things for you.

Types of Cancellations, Refunds and Other Questions

There are three scenarios at this point. 

Scenario 1) You already purchased your Eurail Pass and have not traveled yet. 

Scenario 2) You purchased your Eurail Pass and are currently traveling. 

Scenario 3) You are thinking of purchasing one for the future.

I’m in scenario 1. I purchased my Eurail pass, validated it upon checking out, and was due to start using it this June. Currently, Eurail is uping their refund policy. They’re allowing a refund of up to 85% money back.

Eurail is also letting you move your validation date up to 6 months in the future. 

Be aware that things may change. If the coronavirus situation gets worse, the Eurail policy may change as well. Check out their website for up to date info on canceled train systems and refunds regularly. It’s a big help.

If you’re in scenario two and are currently traveling and cannot use your pass due to high restrictions and lockdowns, there is an option.

You can request an exchange for your pass. Usually, Eurail allows you to validate it within the next 11 months of your purchase date. However, if you exchange it, Eurail is giving everyone a six-month extension, so really, you have 17 months to start using it. Once you know what your plans are, contact Eurail customer service. 

If you’re in scenario 3 and are thinking of purchasing a pass for the future, you still can. 

You can buy your pass and validate it within the next 17 months of receiving it. This means you have at least a year and a half to plan your trip and start using your pass. 

If you purchase it and then realize you don’t want to travel, or the travel bans persist past these dates, you can receive up to 85% of your money back.

Let me break it down for you:

I’m still planning on moving to Paris once this is all over, but as of now, I don’t know when it will be over. So once I know, I am heading over to https://www.eurail.com/en/help/travel-disruptions/coronavirus-update contacting them to exchange my pass.

I hope this helps you out as much as it helped me out.