Britrail and Ireland Rail Pass The Britrail and Ireland Pass is your best choice if you want to see all that the United Kingdom and Ireland have to offer. The Britrail plus Ireland pass is the most comprehensive of the Britrail passes and superb value for money.

The BritRail and Ireland Flexi rail pass enables you to travel anywhere, anytime whenever you want in Ireland (both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) as well as England, Scotland and Wales for either 5 or 10 days during a one month period depending on what pass duration you have selected to purchase. You may spread the travel days over the entire one month period or use them consecutively.

Included in the Britrail plus Ireland rail pass is a ferry crossing from England to Ireland with Stena Line ferries that would otherwise cost you as much as $200 adding further value to this pass. As the ferry crossing time forms part of your pass time unless you only intend to visit Dublin we recomend that you choose the ten travel option to ensure you have enough time to also visit Scotland and still tour the whole of England.

Available BritRail and Ireland Train Passes

BritRail and Ireland 5 Day Rail Pass

Allows unlimited anytime anywhere consecutive days of travel within Ireland (both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) as well as England, Scotland and Wales for any 5 days during a one month period.

Heathrow Express rail service between London Heathrow Airport and Paddington Station is included as is the ferry crossing from England to Ireland. You have your choice of 1st or 2nd class train travel.

Click here for prices and to order the Britrail Ireland Flexi Pass

BritRail and Ireland 10 Day Rail Pass

Allows unlimited anytime anywhere consecutive days of travel within Ireland (both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) as well as England, Scotland and Wales for any 10 days during a one month period.

Heathrow Express rail service between London Heathrow Airport and Paddington Station is included as is the ferry crossing from England to Ireland. You have your choice of 1st or 2nd class train travel. .

Click here for prices and to order the Britrail Ireland Flexi Pass

Note: Due to it's exceptional value the Britrail and Ireland flexi pass is not available at the discount rates offered on other Britrail passes for youth, senior, family and group train travel.

Additional BritRail Flexi Rail Pass Bonuses

Purchase your Britrail Pass online in advance and you will benefit from all of the following value added extras:-

• Children under 5 years of age travel free with an adult pass holder.
• One child age 5-15 may travel free with each adult or senior family pass holder.
• Seniors (60 years of age or older), can enjoy discounted 1st class travel with a Britrail Classic Pass, Britrail Flexi Pass or BritRail Drive Pass.
• Good for use on the Heathrow Express between London Heathrow Airport and Paddington Station.
• Good for use on the Gatwick Express between London Gatwick Airport and Victoria Station.
• A reduced fare will apply for those using the youth pass.
• Optional RaiPass security for only $12 per pass.
• Special discount fare on the Eurostar.
  

MORE INFORMATION ON BRITRAIL FLEXI PASSESS

BritRail Pass Ticket Classes

1st class passes are the normal full adult fare, although there are discounts for children and groups traveling together. In general, 1st class travel is more spacious and quieter than 2nd class travel. 1st class seats are usually larger with reclining backs and more legroom than 2nd class seats. In a typical 1st class train car, there are usually 2 seats on one side of the aisle and one seat on the other. In compartment car seating, the cabins accommodate up to 6 passengers (instead of 8).

2nd class passes are an affordable way to travel Britain and is the way most English themselves travel. 2nd class seating usually has 2 seats on either side of the aisle. In compartment car seating, 2nd class cabins accommodate up to 8 passengers while 2nd class sleepers have 2-3 beds (instead of 1). Couchettes are considered 2nd class travel, and accommodate 4-6 people. Sleeperettes, reclining seats, are also included in this category.

Youth passes are available only to travelers under the age of 26. Adults over 26 years of age must travel using an adult 1st class pass. Rail officials check passports and tickets prior to departure. Failure to comply will lead to confiscation of pass and possible fines. If a Youth Pass holder wishes to travel with an adult where there is no 2nd class adult option, he/she may pay the difference in the fare and ride 1st class. An adult may ride 2nd class but he/she does not get a refund on the paid adult fare. The Britrail youth pass is available for both 1st and 2nd class travel.

Party passes allow up to 9 adults (and youths) to travel together on a BritRail Party Pass. Two travelers pay the full adult rate for BritRail Consecutive, Flexi, England, and London Plus passes, and the 3rd to 9th passengers each pay 50% of the regular adult price. Members of party must validate pass and travel together, purchasing same type and duration of pass (all 1st class or all 2nd class at adult rate, no youth discount, max. 2 free kids).

Family Passes are for families traveling together. It allows one child 5-15 years of age to travel free with each full paying adult or senior.

Rail Pass Security / Insurance

Pass security is essential for rail travelers. Rail Passes are like cash. If you are traveling in Europe and your rail pass is lost or stolen, you will not receive any type of replacement or refund unless you have Pass Security. Under the Pass Security Program, you are entitled to a full refund of the unused portion of your original rail passes or rail and drive passes. This service is available for only $12 US, and covers all rail passes issued on Europrail by Railkey.

You must purchase rail Pass Security at the same time as the your pass. When you order your pass online you will see that the box for Pass Security is already set to accept. If you do not want to participate in the Pass Security Program you may change this and decline the protection.

Validating Your BritRail Pass

Every BritRail pass must be validated prior to use.

Your Britrail pass will be validated twice. The first stamp is printed automatically by our office and will appear on the top right hand corner of the pass. You must begin to use your pass within 6 months of this validation.

On the day you begin your travel, go to the ticket office of the train station and have an official validate your pass. They should put a second stamp on your pass under the first one. You must do this in order to start your journey and not risk having your pass confiscated. Please note that you must have your pass validated at the station. A conductor on a train cannot validate your pass.

Using Your Validated Rail Pass

After having your pass validated, you're free to use the trains as much as you like within the validity of your pass.

Holders of a consecutive day pass have virtually nothing left to do with their pass other than presenting the pass on the train or making an occassional reservation.

Holders of a flexipass must write the day's date of travel (in ink) on their pass in the appropriate box before boarding the train. Failure to do so will result in a fine being levied. Be careful when entering the travel date on your pass, as incorrect dates result in the loss of the travel day. Tampering with the pass will result in a fine and/or confiscation, so be particularly careful when entering the days on your pass.

When the train is underway the conductor will come by to check tickets. Have your pass ready to present when asked. If the train makes a number of stops en-route you may need to present your pass a few more times, especially on long distance trains when there is a personnel change. At some international borders you will need to present your pass to border patrol. Have your passport and identification ready and be cooperative.

Overnight Train Accomodation

Your railpass does not cover sleepers. Night trains require an advance reservation for a sleeper or couchette. If you will be utilizing a night train, it is necessary to make an advance reservation and there will be an additional cost.

Meals On Trains

Most long-distance trains have a restaurant or buffet car and some have bar cars. On shorter trips snack vendors travel regularly through the train. Feel free to bring your own food and make a picnic on the train.

High-Speed Trains

High-speed trains offer the convenience of a quick, quiet ride in modern train cars. They get you from place to place with a maximum of efficiency and comfort and in a minimum of time. You can relax and enjoy conversation or the scenery while traveling great distances.

High-speed trains run on special tracks that keep them quiet, or have special suspension to keep them running smoothly on regular tracks. These trains travel at upwards of 150 miles per hour. They usually run direct routes to major European cities and choice locations.

Rail passes cover most high-speed trains. In the cases where high-speed travel is not covered, rail passes allow discounts on fares. A supplement or reservation fee is required for travel on most high-speed trains.

There are no high-speed trains on the BritRail network but BritRail pass holders do enjoy coniderable discount when purchasing a Eurostar ticket in Britain.

Refund And Exchange

Lost or stolen rail passes are neither refundable nor replaceable. Handling and/or issuing charges are not refundable. Pass insurance is recommended. Unused rail passes are refundable within one (1) year from issue date (or six (6) months from issue date where so stated) provided they have not been validated, have been cancelled and so stamped at a retail station prior to the beginning of the validation period.

All refunds are subject to a 15% cancellation charge. Unused vouchers of combination packages (those combining rail with other travel programs such as car rental or hotel) are not refundable if any of the services of the entire combination package have been wholly or partially used. Partially used or validated passes are 100% nonrefundable.

If you cancel your tickets, you must return them before the first date of travel. We will then refund the cost of the tickets subject to the deduction of cancellation fees. In the event that tickets arrive in our office after the first date of travel, no refund can be given.

The BritRail Pass is the most convenient way to see Great Britain with a pass option to fit any itinerary. The BritRail Pass gives you the complete flexibility of unlimited train travel through England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.

BRITRAIL & IRELAND FLEXI PASS - View Prices and Purchase Online BritRail & Ireland 5 Day Flexi Pass BritRail & Ireland 10 Day Flexi Pass View information on all other available BritRail Travel Passes

Please Note: As Britrail rail travel passes are not able to be purchased in the country of travel advance purchase is essential and will also cost you less. To purchase a Britrail Classic Pass online select the type of pass required from the options in the drop down menu above.