Rail Pass Puts Every Train in Your Hip Pocket

Trains in the United States carry students and pensioners who have more time than money. In contrast, European trains attract VIP business travelers and budget - minded vacationers alike.

The fares are affordable, and look more and more attractive as gas prices rise. The conveniently frequent trains run at 125 m.p.h. between stations, easily beating cars, and about 190 m.p.h. on high-speed lines, competing with air travel. The new carriages are quiet and comfortable.

But it’s not only the soft suspension that takes the bumps out of travel. With a rail pass, you don’t line up for tickets and struggle with strange currencies and languages -- just hop on any train and go.

As an overseas visitor, you can take advantage of passes offered to nonresidents at a lower price than to the locals. Most of these are sold only on this side of the ocean (see details below).

Choose your pass by how widely and how long you want to travel. A national pass may cost only half as much as a Eurailpass, but a Eurailpass is good in 17 countries. The Greek Tourist Card costs less than the Swiss pass, but Swiss trains get you where you want to be in less time and time is even more precious than money on a vacation.

The longer the validity, the less cost per day: the 15-day Eurailpass costs $26 a day, the three-month version only $11.32.

Of course, the less you use a pass, the more each trip costs. The solution is a “flexipass,” good on those days that you select within a period. For example, the one-month consecutive Eurailpass costs $616, but the 14-day-in-a-month Flexipass, for $498, lets you travel about every other day.

Passes usually include all surcharges. In the listings below, unless other age limits are shown, youths under 26 pay less in some countries, children under 12 pay half-price, and those under 4 travel free.

Prices are shown for first- and second-class. Also, the quoted prices of passes sold in Europe may vary with the exchange rate of the dollar.

Order passes through travel agents or directly from a European railway agency.

International Passes Eurailpass: for Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland. Adult passes are first-class, youth passes second-class.

A Eurailpass for an adult costs $390 for 15 days; 21 days, $498; 1 month, $616; 2 months, $840; 3 months, $1,042.

The Saverpass is a 15-day pass for two or more people traveling together (at least three between April 1 and Sept. 30). Cost: $298.

Flexipass: 5 days in 15, $230; 9 days in 21, $398; 14 days in a month, $498.

Youthpass: one month, $425; two months, $560.

Youth Flexipass: 15 days out of 3 months, $340; 30 days/3 months, $540.

European East Pass: For Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland. First-class only. Sold to nonresidents by Rail Europe. Cost for five days in 15, $160; 10 days out of a month, $259.

Benelux Tourrail-kaart: For Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, five days in 17. Sold in Europe at stations in the United States by the Netherlands Board of Tourism. Adults, $114 first-class and $76 second-class; youths (6-26), $80 first-class, $54 second-class.

BritFrance Railpass: Includes return trip across the English Channel. Sold to nonresidents by BritRail and Rail Europe. Adults: 5 days in 15, $335/$249; 10 days/month, $495/$375.

Youths (second-class): 5 days in 15, $199; 10 days/month, $299.

Scandinavian FlexiPass: For Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, most ferries included. Sold to nonresidents by Rail Europe. Four days in 15, $179/$139; 9 days in 21, $299/229; 14 days/month, $459/$319.

Nordturist Ticket: For Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, most ferries included. Sold only in Europe. Twenty-one consecutive days. Adults, $383/$287; youths (12-25), $287/$217.

National Passes Austria: Rabbit Card and network pass (Bundes-Netzkarte) for the whole country, regional passes (Regional-Netzkarten) for a tourist area. Children 6-15 pay half. All are sold in Austria, but Rabbit Cards are also sold by Rail Europe.

Rabbit Card, 4 days in 10, $125/$87; juniors (16-26), $78/$53.

Regional pass, 4 days in 10: $48/$38.

Network pass, one month: $443/$295.

Belgium: The B-Tourrail-kaart for trains only; the TTB-kaart adds the use of public transit in all Belgian cities, both for five days in 17. Sold only in Belgium (order network passes in advance).

B-Tourrail: adults, $73/$56; youths (6-26), $64/$43.

TTB: adults, $100/$72; youths (6-26), $77/$56.

Network pass: 7 days, $72/$48; 16 days, $160/$106; one month, $257/$172.

Britain: BritRail Passes are sold to nonresidents by BritRail. Passes for seniors (60 years and over) cost about 10% less than the adult passes. Youth (16-25) passes are standard class (second-class) and cost about 20% less; a 15-day/2-month Flexipass, for $295, is offered instead of the 15-day/month adult pass. Children 5-15 pay half.

Pass: 8 days, $319/$209; 15 days, $479/$319; 22 days, $599/$399; one month, $689/$465.

Flexipass: 4 days in 8, $269/$179; 8 days in 15, $379/$255; 15 days/month, $549/$369.

Passes sold in Britain:

All-Line Rovers (valid on all trains, except boat trains between London and Dover): 7 days, $582/$352; 14 days, $775/$494.

Regional Rovers (seven days, choice of 18 regions) from $60 to $123. Some areas offer Flexi Rovers. Local Rovers cover small districts. Children and holders of Railcards (youths, seniors, handicapped) pay 34% less.

Denmark: The one-month DSB Danmarkskort is sold in Denmark for $350.

Finland: Finnrail Passes are sold only in Finland: 8 days, $195/$130; 15 days, $302/$202; 22 days, $380/$254.

France: France’s Railpasses include free airport transfer and one day of city transit in Paris. Children pay 40% less. Sold by Rail Europe. Four days in 15, $179/$119; 9 days/month, $309/$209.

Germany: GermanRail Passes are good for trains (including the former East Germany), German Touring buses and some inland ships. Sold by Rail Europe, GermanRail and in Germany to nonresidents.

Adult: 5 days/month, $190/$130; 10 days/month, $300/$200; 15 days/month, $375/$250.

Juniors (12-16, second-class): 5 days/month, $90; 10 days/month, $120; 15 days/month, $150.

Passes sold in Germany:

The monthly network pass (Monatsnetzkarte) includes most regional buses: $872/$581. The one-month Tramper-Monats-Ticket for youths (12-23, students to 27, second-class) includes taking a bicycle: $175.

Touring cards (Tourenkarte) allow travel on trains (second-class) and buses in a 63-mile area for 10 days out of 21. Anyone can buy them with a train ticket or train pass if they are at least 130 miles from the area. Surcharges are not included. Cost: $33 for one, $45 for two, $55 for a family.

Inquire about regional passes for a month or week (Bezirks-monatskarte, Bezirks-wochenkarte).

Greece: The Greek Tourist Card for up to five passengers traveling together on second-class. Sold only in Greece. Prices for one to five persons: 10 days, $30 to $86; 20 days, $48 to $144; 30 days, $65 to $195.

Hungary: The Hungary FlexiPass, first-class, is sold by Rail Europe. Five days in 15, $35; 10 days/month, $55.

Passes sold in Hungary:

Tourist pass (turista berlet) : 7 days, $30/$21; 10 days, $47/$32. Balaton pass (Balatoni berlet) for Lake Balaton: 7 days, $5.20; 10 days, $6.50 (second-class).

Ireland: Rambler Tickets for trains (second-class) or buses or both. Children’s fares for those under 16. Sold only in Ireland.

Rail or bus:

Adults, 8 days in 14, $98; 15 days/month, $142. Children, 8 days in 14, $49; 15 days/month, $72.

Rail and bus: Adults, 8 days in 14, $134; 15 days/month, $195. Children, 8 days in 14, $67; 15 days/month, $98.

Italy: The BTLC (Biglietto Turistico di Libera Circolazione) and IFR (Italy Flexi Railcard) are sold to nonresidents by CIT Tours.

BTLC: 8 days, $206/$136; 15 days, $258/$172; 21 days, $298/$198; 30 days, $360/$240.

IFR: 4 days in 9, $154/$104; 8 days in 21, $226/$148; 12 days/month, $284/$190.

Luxembourg: Network passes for trains (second-class) and buses; sold only in Luxembourg.

Billet reseau: one day, $3.90.

Abonnement reseau mensuel: one month, $39.

The Netherlands: Passes for more than one day require a photo or passport number. The Holland Rail Pass and seven-day card are sold by the Netherlands Board of Tourism, the others within the country. The city/bus surcharge (Stad-Streekabonnement) adds inter-city buses and city transit in all cities (not with Holland Rail Pass).

Holland Rail Pass, 3 days in 15, $48/$38.

Dagkaart : one day, $45/$30, add $3 for city/bus.

Netkaart : seven days, $91/$61, add $12 for city/bus; one month, $375/$250, add $40 for city/bus.

Youths pass (Jeugdmaandnetkaart, for 12-18, second-class): 1 month, $200, add $40 for city/bus.

Teener pass (Tienertoerkaart, for 12-18, second-class), only June through August and during the fall, Christmas and Easter school vacations: 4 days in 10, $29, add $7 for city/bus.

Family pass (Gezinstoerkaart), sold only June through August: 4 days in 10, $118/$95; add $24 for city/bus.

Group pass (Meer Man’s Kaart) for one day, but not before 9 a.m., Monday-Friday: $68/$45 to $114/$75 (for 2 to 6 people).

Poland: The Polrailpass is sold to nonresidents locally and by Orbis, 342 Madison Ave., Suite 1512, New York, 10173, (212) 867-5011. Eight days, $50/$35; 15 days, $60/$40; 21 days, $65/$45.

Portugal: The Bilhete turistico is available locally. Seven days, $100; 14 days, $160; 21 days, $228.

Spain: Spain Rail Passes are sold to nonresidents by Rail Europe. Four days in 15, $109/$83; 8 days, $159/$116; 15 days, $259/$182.

Switzerland: The Swiss Pass for trains, buses, ships and public transit is good in 25 cities. Children under 16 travel free. Sold to nonresidents by Rail Europe and locally at stations and at the Geneva and Zurich airports. Three days in 15, $199/$129; 8 days, $239/$159; 15 days, $289/$189; 1 month, $389/$269.

Regional vacation passes (Regionale Ferienabonnemente/Abonnement de vacances regional) for unlimited travel on two days in seven or seven days in 15, and half-fare tickets on other days in eight tourist regions cost from $35 to $113. Sold locally, only in the summer.

GUIDEBOOK

Where to Buy Passes

--Rail Europe, 9465 Wilshire Blvd., No. 713, Beverly Hills 90212, (213) 272-7967.

--CIT Tours (Italian Railways), 15760 Ventura Blvd., No. 819, Los Angeles 91436, (213) 728-7245.

--GermanRail, 11933 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90025, (213) 479-2772.

--BritRail Travel International, 1500 Broadway, New York 10036, (212) 575-2667.

--Netherlands Board of Tourism, 225 N. Michigan Ave., No. 326, Chicago, Ill. 60601, (312) 819-0300.