Surcharge for train rides on top of rail pass cost

First thing when you get to Europe, you must validate your rail pass. This starts the period of validity. You must do this before you ride for the first time.

Once you have validated the pass, in most cases, you only show the pass to the conductor. Before boarding the train that day, you fill in the date in the correct place on the pass. In some countries (Germany, eg, for any train) that's all you have to do. In most, if not all, countries, if you are riding on regional trains, that is all you must do. Some countries (France, Italy) consider their high speed, or even Intercity trains, as premium trains, for which the rail pass is not enough. For them you must purchase an additional "reservation" at the station. Although the "reservation" gives you a reserved seat, it is also a supplement for the premium train, because it is considered better than the regional trains. In some countries, France, in particular, the rail line limits the number of these passholder reservations, so, although there might be seat available on the train for full fare customers, it is "sold out" for passholders.

You have to pay reservation fees on Italian Freccia high speed trains and IC trains and EC trains, French TGV trains and IC trains, the Thalys high speed trains between Paris and Amsterdam, Eurostar trains between UK and France and Belgium.

Night trains are only extra if you want some sort of sleeping accommodations. Just sitting up all night in a seat is free.

The Man In Seat 61 is a rail guru whose website has an astounding amount of information. Start with his discussion of whether or not to buy a rail pass: https://www.seat61.com/Railpass-and-Eurail-pass-guide.htm#railpass-or-point-to-point-tickets

If you are buying a pass, scroll down further on that page to learn all about using it.

"...will there be a surcharge every time I ride a train using the pass and a travel day?" That depends on the type of train. In Austria no.

In France yes, when you take a TGV train, say Paris to Lyon or Paris to Strasbourg or the Paris to Arras TGV. The surcharge is that it is mandatory to get a seat reservation first prior to boarding. I would not use a pass day riding the TER trains unless it is your last ride of the trip. For TER trains I buy the point to point tickets, say going from Paris to Fontainebleau or Paris to Amiens or Soissons.

The same applies to riding the Thalys trains in Belgium, those mandatory reservations are the most expensive...I totally avoid the Thalys trains by tailoring the train routes. With a Global Pass you certainly can do likewise.

There is no mandatory reservations for taking the ICE trains in Germany, one of the distinct advantages of the ICE over the TGV and Thalys trains. Those trains you can just hop with your Pass, getting a seat may be another story...just depends but at least you boarded. The RB and RE trains in Germany ...no surcharge by way of mandatory reservations, these trains like the TER in France don't have reserved seats, if no seats are left, you stand just as others will be doing.

If you want a seat reservation or need one, say with the TGV, buy it at the counter before you board. I usually do that the night before in France and Germany since there are far fewer people waiting for a ticket counter. Show the pass and the seat reservation to controller who will stamp both.

What countries are you traveling in? You need to understand the rules for travel on trains with a pass for each country, as they are different. In most cases, you can ride slow regional trains at will, but the faster intercity trains require reservations which cost extra.

In France there is this "thing" called a pass holders' quota. No such thing in Germany or Austria. The quota means that if Pass holders want to reserve a seat for a definite departure and that number has been met, you won't be sold a seat reservation as you are a pass holder...still no big deal.

Do you have a 1st class Global Pass? If so, you can ask for a 2nd class seat reservation, most likely that will be available.

If not, choose another departure time, ask for the 1st or 2nd class seat reservation.

Have I encountered this pass holders' quota? Yes, a couple of times but only going from France to Germany, in the summer, and last minute. Since I had a 1st class Pass (not the Global), I asked for a seat reservation in 2nd class, which the guy said there was just one left...true or not, who knows, but I did this last minute on a summer trip going from Paris to Frankfurt.

Where are you going with your pass? What countries?

I use a rail Pass but never the Global...not yet, anyway. Maybe a Select Pass will met your needs, say one of 3-4 countries. I would only consider using a Global if you plan on traveling in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Poland, Czechia, France. When I say Sweden and Norway, I don't mean going to just Oslo and Stockholm but doing the rides way up north, maybe over the Arctic Circle, not just seeing the capitals of these two countries.

Plus, if you intend to take the ferries or night train rides, and there are plenty of night train connections with Budapest, Munich as hubs. With the Global Pass you get up to 30% discount on the routes, ie going from Germany to Finland, and others. There are more ferry routes now than was the case 10 years ago connecting Poland with Sweden, Germany with Poland, Germany with Norway, aside from those already connecting Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

If I had 2 full months, ie 61 nights on the continent plus the UK, I could easily draw up an itinerary going from London to Helsinki using that Global Pass and the ferry, night train, day train options. Keep in mind the Global Pass is valid on the EuroStar, another incentive.

Reservation requirements and fees vary by country and by type of train. These pages have all the specifics:

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/reservations

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/using-your-rail-pass

and reservation fees summarized for each country on our pages dedicated to that country (along the sidebar).

I traveled on railpass when I was in my 20s. I did a lot of very long distance segments and the pass was really a good deal 40-50 years ago. (Yes, I'm old now.)

Nowadays I buy separate tickets (usually 3 months ahead to get lowest prices) for city-to-city. It's always cheaper than buying the railpass. Also, the hassle of the separate seat reservations, and the cost, negate the convenience of a railpass.

Do as a poster above suggests, go to the seat61.com website for everything you ever need to know about traveling the world on the rails.