How do you use an Inter rail-pass?

How exactly does it work? Is it essentially a "free" pass (though obviously not free as you pre-pay for it!) or is it something to get you discounts on train travel?How do you use an Inter rail-pass?An Interrail pass lets you travel free on most trains, and covers the basic fare on others. You will have to pay separately for the supplements that many European countries charge for particular types of express trains, for seat reservations and for overnight couchettes and sleepers. If you had bought an ordinary ticket for the same trip you would have to pay the same supplements.



Local trains don't usually have any supplements, so you can just jump on the train if you are going say 50 miles on a stopping train. On trips that I have done, the supplements varied from 拢1 for a seat reservation to about 拢20 for a couchette or a long journey by TGV. Unfortunately the Interrail website is vague about these:

http://www.raileurope.co.uk/Default.aspx鈥?/a>

but you could phone up and ask when you have an idea of your itinerary.



Unfortunately British stations are not connecting into the European booking network, but most continental countries are, so that you can make a load of reservations at the first station that you have time to spare.



If you will be mainly travelling in cheaper countries in Eastern Europe, it may be cheaper to travel without a pass and buy tickets as you go. It is worth getting an idea how much your trip would cost without a pass.



Also take a look at:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Interrail