DESCRIPTION

• The German Rail Pass gives the customer the right to travel on all lines and trains operated by Deutsche Bahn(DB-German Railways), depending on the category and validity of pass chosen.
• All German Rail Passes are 'flexi' passes which entitle the holder to a specified number of travel days within a one month period. The tickets issued for these products are printed with a calendar.
• There are Adult, Child (6 -11), Twin (2 persons) and Youth versions of the pass available.
• The German Rail Pass entitles the holder to free travel or price reductions (BONUSES) on the lines of the Bonus partners in Germany.
• German Rail Passes are available in 1st or 2nd class for the following days validity periods: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 days within one month.
• The German Rail Pass Twin pass is available for a flexible number of days travel to be chosen within one month, available for both 1st and 2nd class for a party of two travelers traveling together at all times. Only one pass is issued, the details of the lead passenger will be on the ticket cover, with the details of the additional passenger appearing on the control voucher. Passes are available for 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 days flexi travel within one month.
• German Rail Youth Pass is available in 2nd class only for young people under 26 years of age on the first day of validity of the pass. Passes are available for 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 days flexi travel within 1 month.
• German Rail Tourpass is available in both 1st & 2nd class for flexi travel (3, 4 or 5 days) within 1 month. They are only available to Tour Operators and on the condition that it is part of an integral part of a package deal (inclusive tour) which incorporates at least one other additional service (e.g. hotel, flight, car hire etc). The package tour must be published in a brochure, stating that the ticket and other services are only available in a package. The price of the German Rail Pass must never be published to the final customer.

• German rail passes may be issued to anyone permanently residing outside Europe, the Russian Federation, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.
• Residents of overseas or territories of European States are eligible.
• US and Canadian military personnel stationed in Europe are considered to be American and Canadian residents respectively and are entitled to buy a German Rail Pass.
• German Rail Passes are available in Germany and Europe from DB Aid offices in Germany, the UK (German Rail UK London), and France (DB Paris). Please see full list in Appendix I.
• Tourpasses are not available for purchase in this way.

• All German Rail Passes must be issued electronically.
• The pass must be inserted in an ACP Rail International European Passes ticket cover.
• The document, German Rail Pass –Useful information and travel map –must be handed to each pass holder by the issuing office.

• The German Rail Pass exempts the holder from paying a surcharge on German High Speed and Quality trains such as ICE (except ICE Sprinter trains with compulsory reservation and supplement for special on-board services), IC or EC.
• Pass holders have free access to these trains, reservations are however recommended during peak times.
• The German Rail Pass Offer is not valid on Metropolitan Trains, DB Urlaubs Express and DB AutoZug.
• The pass holder must pay other charges and supplements, in particular those levied for:
  • seat reservations (sometimes including services routinely offered and/or compulsory)
  • the use of overnight accommodation, e.g. on DB NachtZug trains (sleeperettes, couchettes, berths)
  • meals, which are included in the supplement of some trains
  • other services offered on board trains such as telephones, newspapers etc.
• With regard to the transport of luggage, holders of the German Rail Pass are subject to the same conditions as holders of ordinary tickets.

• A German Rail Pass also includes Salzburg (Austria) and Basel (Switzerland).
• In addition German Rail Pass holders are entitled to the following bonuses:
• free travel on boats of the KD Köln-Düsseldorfer German Rhine Line on the rivers Rhine and Moselle. For further details please refer to www.k-d.com
• discounted fares on Europabus lines operated by Deutsche Touring (Romantic Road and Castle Road). For further details and bookings please refer to www.romantic-road-coach.de
• discounted fares on the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn rack railway. For further details please refer to www.zugspitze.de

• Validation - The holder chooses the day on which the validity of the pass will begin. This date together with the last day of validity, is entered on the pass either by the Issuing office, or by a DB station window, before the passenger takes the train for the first time.
• An Inspector on international trains may also validate a pass when the holder of a German Rail Pass arrives in Germany in a train from abroad. In that case, the starting date for validity to be shown on the pass is the date on which it is inspected.
• The passenger must not validate his/her pass himself in blue or black fountain or ballpoint pen.
• In the case of a German Rail Twin pass, the passport numbers of two persons must be filled in on the control voucher issued with the pass.
• The passenger may not begin his first journey before 00h00 hours on the first day of validity of his pass. His last journey must end at the latest at 03h00 hours after midnight of the last day of validity of the pass. The date and time taken into account are those stated in the timetables for arrival at the destination station.
• A passenger whose pass has not been validated and who has not entered the date of travel in the box provided on the calendar on his pass before beginning his journey, must pay a fine equal to 50 euros.
• Passes issued for 1st class travel are also valid in 2nd class.
• Passholders can travel from midnight until midnight on the selected day of travel. If the trip starts on board a direct overnight train departing after 19.00, the next day's date must be entered; travel between 19h.00 and 24h00 on the day of departure is then included. However, travel can never begin before00h.01 on the first day of validity and and must be completed at the latest by 24h.00 on the last day of validity.

• All requests for refunds must be made in writing to the Issuing office.
• This request, accompanied by the pass in its cover, must be submitted, either by the holder herself/himself, or the retail agency to ACP Rail International, within a year from the date of issue. No request can be considered after this period.
• When a request for a refund is agreed, the sum refunded is 15% less than the cost of the pass.
• Unused passes – the procedure is as follow:
  • the pass is considered not to be validated if it does not show dates of validity and, if applicable, it does not have dates entered in the calendar boxes provided on the pass. In these cases the refund is granted
  • if the pass is presented before the starting date of its period of validity, the refund is granted
  • if the pass is presented during or after its period of validity, the refund is granted if it has been rendered “NOT USED” before the first day of validity by a DB official or a DB station ticket counter or service point. This is done by drawing two diagonal crossing lines across the front of the pass and writing on it ‘Not used’, signing it, and date-stamping it.
• Partially used passes:
  • any pass is considered to be partly used when the holder requests its cancellation after the first day of validity. In principle, the passenger has no claim to refund
  • however, the Sales Agent may contact ACP Rail International, who will approach DB on their behalf in extenuating circumstances (death, illness etc)
  • the client must present the application with all the necessary proof e.g. death certificate, medical certificate etc.
• Partial refund of a Twin Pass:
  • if one of the persons on a twin pass decides not to travel prior to validation of the pass, the Issuing Office has to issue a new individual pass
  • if the application is submitted too late before departure to Europe, the travel agent has to cross out on the pass or on the control voucher, the name of the person who will not travel, sign and stamp the date
  • upon return, an application for refund of the person who did not travel must be submitted within one year from the date of issue to the Issuing Office, which may then grant a partial refund
  • the same procedure applies to a DB Aid office if the change occurs in Germany.
• Passes not used/partially used due to "force majeure" (e.g.strike or natural disaster):
  • a traveler who could not (or only partly) use his/her German Rail Pass due to a rail strike or natural disaster in Germany must submit an application for refund to the Issuing Office, who will make representation of all the facts and supporting documentation to the DB. In the event of a positive result, a partial refund will be granted
  • all refunds will be calculated according to the number of days of the validity used
• Passes lost or stolen are not eligible for refunds. The same applies to tickets of any sort purchased to replace lost or stolen passes.
• The passenger has no claim to refund for traveling in a lower class.
• In situations not accounted for above, the Issuing Office must submit the application to DB for a decision, with supporting documentation.
• The Sales Agent may contact DB for a partial refund, if the pass could not be used completely for compelling reasons (e.g.death, serious illness or accident of the traveller). In this case the client, or representative must present the application with supporting evidence e.g. eath certificate, medical certificate etc. and submit this in writing to: DB Personenverkehr GmbH, Kundendialog TCV, Postfach 120 655, 10596 Berlin, Germany.

Free transportation - German Rail Pass Holders are granted free transportation on boats of the Koln–Dusseldorfer Rheinschiffahrt AG:
• on the River Rhein between Cologne and Mainz
• on the River Moselle between Koblenz and Cochem
• Reservations and enquiries to:

Koln-DusseldorferRheinschiffahrtAG
Frankenwerft35,
50667 Koln,
Germany
www.k-d.de

• Discounts – German Rail Pass Holders are granted the following discounts:
  • Lake Constance (Bodensee) = 50% reduction on all steamer routes operated by Bodenseeschiffahrtsbetriebe(BSB)
  • Europabusroutes operated by Deutsche Touring GmbH = 60% reduction on:
    • "Romantic Road" route, Frankfurt am Main – Wurzburg–Rothenburgo.d.T.-Fussen (seasonal traffic)
    • "Castle Road" route, Frankfurt am Main – Heidelberg –Rothenburgo.d. T (seasonal traffic)
• N.B. It is strongly advised to book 2 days in advance at:

  Deutsche Touring GmbH
  Am Romerhof17,
  60486 Frankfurt am Main
  Tel: ++ 49 69 790 32 56
  Fax: ++49 69 790 32 81
  www.deutsche-touring.com

• Berlin –Warszawa Express –a special reduced fare is granted to German Pass Holders for the use of this quality service between Berlin and Warszaw/Poland. This includes the Polish section.