I have a Select Pass and I will be taking an overnight train (Elipsos) on the first day of my pass. Does the 7 PM rule apply to this or will this journey take 2 days of my pass? Thanks for your help...
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
If your train departs after 7 PM and if you won't change trains until after midnight, then you will enter the date for the day AFTER MIDNIGHT as the first day of use for your pass and you will use ONE pass day (the day after midnight). However, you will have to have the pass validated at the station before boarding.
See this page in the Railpasses section of this site for a full explanation of the rule.
Posted by
OP
Buenos Aires
4 posts
Thank you so much for the info. So this rule is valid on all trains but cannot be applied the first day of travel right?
"travel cannot begin before 00h01 on the first day of the overall validity period of the Pass. If your first travel day is for example Wednesday 6 August, you cannot use the '7 pm rule' on Tuesday the 5th yet" (From Eurail)
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Maria,
the passes are sold for a number of days within a 2 month overall period of validity. You specify the overall period of validity when you purchase the pass. You cannot start using it the day before the start of the period of validity for any travel, even using the 7 pm rule. So, just make sure the period of validity starts the day you want to take the night train (after 7 pm).
Posted by
OP
Buenos Aires
4 posts
Thank you so much Lee!
I think I understand now...
So if my night train leaves for example Feb 9th I have to make sure my pass is validated as from Feb 9th but I would only use one day of my pass (Feb 10th)...Am I right? (embarassed)
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
A quote from the Rick Steves Railpasses link I gave you above: "If the very first use of your flexipass is for an overnight ride, you still write the next day's date as the date of travel, but your pass will be validated starting with the actual date you board."
For a definitive word from the experts, call the toll-free number given on the BETS site.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA, USA
88 posts
Hey, I went through this in the summer and here's what they did:
I boarded the Eplisos train from Barcelona on August 11 for an August 12 arrival. At the station, they validated my pass for August 11 AND also wrote "August 11" as the first date. I was initially worried, because I thought it would be a problem. However, the train conductor looked at my pass, looked at my reservation, and returned them both to me without saying anything even though the date was written August 11, not August 12. There was no problem whatsoever and only one day was used off my pass.
I guess it could have just been that my conductor was inattentive, but he seemed experienced and knowledgeable.