[rsp]

I'm intrested in backpacking across Europe next summer however I have a staff national rail travel card because my father works on the railways I know I can apply for vouchers/coupons to travel free on certain European trains and found the document http://www.atoc.org/clientfiles/File...L%20GUIDES.pdf. But was wondering has anyone on here ever used these coupons to plan and go around Europe themselves? How does it work and which route did you take?

[rsp]

Bump

[duracell]

I don't know a huge amount about this, but my boyfriend has a European card as well as the UK one (his dad is a train driver in the UK) which he's used on trains across Europe: generally he just gets a discounted ticket (sometimes heavily discounted!) but if the conductor doesn't recognise/read/understand it properly, he can get it free - but it is luck of the draw really. I think as a whole his family gets 6 free TGV journeys to use. I'm not sure if I've actually been helpful at all - sorry!

[rsp]

(Original post by duracell)
I don't know a huge amount about this, but my boyfriend has a European card as well as the UK one (his dad is a train driver in the UK) which he's used on trains across Europe: generally he just gets a discounted ticket (sometimes heavily discounted!) but if the conductor doesn't recognise/read/understand it properly, he can get it free - but it is luck of the draw really. I think as a whole his family gets 6 free TGV journeys to use. I'm not sure if I've actually been helpful at all - sorry!

thanks for replying ye that makes sense, do you know whether he sent forms off for the European card or whether he gets it automatically when they send the others annually? and did he pre-book the European journeys or just 'turned up' on the day of travel , thanks so much .

[duracell]

Not sure about actually getting the card, but in terms of tickets he just gets them on the day, at the ticket office.

[MickersT]

Hi there
My Dad works on the railways and has done so for many years, and as such I am also entitled to this facility. As you are a dependant you will be entitled to coupons for free travel in the countries where it says 'all eligible family members' and discounted travel in the others; at least half price. With the FIP card you can buy discount price tickets in advance or on the day in all of these countries, and with the coupons you are entitled to four 48 hour periods of unlimited free travel in that country. This effectively means four boxes per year in those countries, except for the Netherlands where you can apply for two coupons each year.
I feel as though I should give you a couple of important warnings however. Firstly, on high speed trains such as TGVs and ICEs as well as some intercity trains you will need to make a reservation beforehand. This will generally involve paying a small fee. Secondly, if you use a coupon in a country then leave that country then you may not be allowed to use the same coupon upon your return. I'm not entirely sure of the rules here and I'd suggest contacting ATOC for more information about that.
On a separate note some services will give you a special priv price or no reduction at all. For example, Eurostar and Thalys (I believe) will give you a set price each way, and I think that on some services such as TGVs to Spain and Italy in addition to some sleeper trains you may not be able to get discount tickets.
Finally, the class of travel that you are permitted to travel in using the coupons is the same as that on your priv card. I've never been inter-railing before but wish to when I go to uni (next year hopefully). I've used the free travel and half-price in various countries before however, and am going to do a little bit of travelling in Germany when I go there on Tuesday. Sorry for the really long post, but felt I should explain this fully. Hope this is useful.

[rsp]

(Original post by MickersT)
Hi there
My Dad works on the railways and has done so for many years, and as such I am also entitled to this facility. As you are a dependant you will be entitled to coupons for free travel in the countries where it says 'all eligible family members' and discounted travel in the others; at least half price. With the FIP card you can buy discount price tickets in advance or on the day in all of these countries, and with the coupons you are entitled to four 48 hour periods of unlimited free travel in that country. This effectively means four boxes per year in those countries, except for the Netherlands where you can apply for two coupons each year.
I feel as though I should give you a couple of important warnings however. Firstly, on high speed trains such as TGVs and ICEs as well as some intercity trains you will need to make a reservation beforehand. This will generally involve paying a small fee. Secondly, if you use a coupon in a country then leave that country then you may not be allowed to use the same coupon upon your return. I'm not entirely sure of the rules here and I'd suggest contacting ATOC for more information about that.
On a separate note some services will give you a special priv price or no reduction at all. For example, Eurostar and Thalys (I believe) will give you a set price each way, and I think that on some services such as TGVs to Spain and Italy in addition to some sleeper trains you may not be able to get discount tickets.
Finally, the class of travel that you are permitted to travel in using the coupons is the same as that on your priv card. I've never been inter-railing before but wish to when I go to uni (next year hopefully). I've used the free travel and half-price in various countries before however, and am going to do a little bit of travelling in Germany when I go there on Tuesday. Sorry for the really long post, but felt I should explain this fully. Hope this is useful.

Thanks for taking the time to explain all that. The reason i wanted to know is because I have a someone crazy idea/plan to take the train to Hong Kong either next may if i am forced to take a gap year or in one of uni's summer holidays. Just wanted to know so i can work out whether it will be cheaper (for the part of the journey travelling through Europe) to buy the interail pass thing, or to pay for individual journeys using the discounts/coupons. The 48 hour thing makes sense just a bit annoying because I would want to stop at some places for at least a couple of days although then i suppose i could just use more boxes in those places? Also I can't do this technically on a gap year can I , will they still give me the coupons if i am not in full time education? sorry just no one in my family has bothered trying/using this before.

[MickersT]

Sorry for the slow reply, on holiday at the minute. You get four boxes for each of the countries where you get free travel, so you'll be able to stop and then use another box when you go on. I'm unsure whether you would be able to use this on a gap year; I'd suggest contacting ATOC about this and asking them.