Traveling with reduced mobility
If you're a traveler with a disability or reduced mobility and need assistance along the way, you can arrange this assistance directly with the carrier. Most railway companies in Europe offer assistance for disabled passengers. Additionally, for a lot of trains throughout Europe, a separate reservation is needed, especially if you are traveling with a wheelchair.
In case you would need to bring a caregiver along on your journey, you could be eligible to apply for a complimentary Eurail Pass for your caregiver – see below for more information.
Passenger assistance in Europe
If you're embarking on your Eurail adventure with reduced mobility, you can request assistance with boarding and de-boarding the train to make sure you have a smooth experience on board.
Every country and train operator has their own policy for passenger assistance and reservations for people with reduced mobility, so we recommend checking for your relevant country of departure and arrival. The information per country is divided into two parts:
- Assistance means that a railway company will assist you by getting into the requested train. It is always good to check each country and train operator about how, when, and where to request passenger assistance. If you're a traveler with a disability or reduced mobility and need assistance along the way, you can arrange this assistance directly with the carrier.
- Reservations can be made on many trains throughout Europe – there will be links in this page on where to find such information. It is often also possible to book a wheelchair space and a 'companion seat' next to it.
- Good to know
-
- When booking reservations with wheelchairs, make sure to schedule or request enough transfer time. Rail planners might suggest certain trains, but delays can always happen and with such specific reserved seats, it can be hard to book new spots last minute.
- Be aware of your rights in case you face difficulties. It is good to know that there are international laws regarding traveling with a disability. For more information, see here.
- When booking by phone, make sure to have a credit card ready. Also be aware that call-center staff does not always speak English, so a translator would come in handy.
- Arranging assistance is a free service provided by railway carriers. Seat or wheelchair reservations, on the other hand, usually come with certain fees.
- Assistance e-mail set-up
-
When requesting assistance, you often need to provide a standard format of information. It can help to already have a template so you can quickly send out complete information. Feel free to use the following example:
Hello,
Can you help me with (wheelchair/other) assistance to get in and out of the next train? Please see my details below –
- Date
- From (departure station)
- To (arriving station)
- Kind and size of mobility aid
- Kind of disability
- Luggage or travel company
- Name
- Phone number
- Email address
My ticket: (Example) I have a valid (1st or 2nd) class Eurail Pass (provide a Pass number)
Please send me a confirmation once the assistance is booked.
Thank you in advance!
Kind regards,
(Name)
- Traveling with guide dogs
-
Guide dogs, assistance dogs or service dogs are generally welcome on trains in Europe, but it highly depends on the journey and the country. It is important to bring along the guide-dog certificate or registration. When traveling on domestic trains, most countries allow guide dogs free of charge and without any reservation. On International trains, the rules are more complicated and it is best to check for the country of departure or the specific train operator.
- How to apply for a complimentary caregiver's Pass
-
If you need to be accompanied during your travels, you might be eligible for a complimentary Eurail Pass for your travel companion.
To apply, please use the link below to submit your request. We'll need your first and last name, date of birth, country of residence, and a copy of your disability card (or equivalent) attached (at the bottom of the form).
Application form for complimentary Pass
Passenger assistance per country
- Austria
-
Assistance
- Can be requested online here
- Phone number: +43 5 1717 5
- Submit the request at least 12 hours in advance for domestic trips by ÖBB
- Submit the request at least 48 hours in advance for international trips
- More information can be found here
Reservations
- Can be made online for domestic and international trips here
- Phone number: +43 5 1717 5
- At the train station
- Belgium
-
Please note that we recommend booking your international seat reservation before booking assistance.
Assistance
- Information can be found here
- Phone number: +32 25 28 28 28
- Submit the request at least 24 hours in advance for domestic trips SNCB/NMBS
- Submit the request at least 48 hours in advance for international trips
- A list of stations with assistance can be found here
- More information can be found here
Reservations
- Bosnia-Herzegovina
-
Assistance
- Request by e-mail to info@zfbh.ba and zeljko.popovic@zrs-rs.com
- Submit the request at least 72 hours in advance for trains operated by ŽFBH and ZRS
Reservations
- Can only be booked locally at the train station
- Bulgaria
-
Assistance
- Requested by e-mail to bdz_passengers@bdz.bg and bdz@bdz.bg
- Phone numbers: + 359 2 988 53 58 and + 359 2 932 41 90
- At least three days in advance
- List of telephone numbers of dispatch points in the railway stations and other important information can be found here
Reservations
- Can only be booked locally at the train station
- Croatia
-
Assistance
- Information can be found here
- By phone: +385 1 378 2583 3
- By e-mail: informacije@hzpp.hr
- At least 48 hours in advance for domestic trips by HŽ
Reservations
- Can only be booked locally at the train station
- For certain international journeys via ÖBB Ticket Shop
- Czech Republic
-
Assistance
- Can be requested here
- At the CD service desk
- By phone: +420 221 111 122
- At least 24 hours in advance for domestic trips by CD
- At least 48 hours in advance for international trips
- More information can be found here
Reservations
- Can be booked here by selecting your preferences
- More information about booking a wheelchair via CD can be found here
- At the train station
Other (private) train companies
- Reservations
- All train operators can be reserved here
- At the train station
- Denmark
- Estonia
-
Assistance
- Can be requested by email: abi@elron.ee
- Provide travel plans/itinerary and special requirements in the email
- At least 3 days in advance for domestic trips by Elron
- More information can be found here
Reservations
- Can be requested when requesting assistance by email at abi@elron.ee
- At the train station
- Finland
-
Assistance
- Information can be found here
- By phone: 0800 188 822
- By e-mail: ramppipalvelu@vr.fi
- At least 36 hours in advance for trips by VR
Reservations
- By phone 0800 188 822
- At the train station
- France
-
Assistance
- Information can be found here
- By phone: +33 970 824 142
- By e-mail: accesplus@transilien-sncf.fr
- At least 48 hours in advance for trips by SNCF
- More information can be found here (in French)
Reservations
- By (international) phone: (+33) 1 84 94 36 35
- press #45 or say « service » + « Accès Plus » (free of charge service + price for the call) from 8h00 to 20h00, 7 days out of 7
- At the train station
- Germany
-
Assistance
- Can be requested here
- By phone: +49 30 65 21 28 88
- By e-mail: msz@deutschebahn.com
- By 8 p.m. the day before the departure at the latest for domestic trips
- At least 48 hours in advance for international trips
- List of stations with assistance can be found here
- More information can be found here (in German)
Reservations
- Can be requested here
- By phone: +49 30 65 21 28 88
- Requested by e-mail: msz@deutschebahn.com
- At the train station
- Great Britain
-
You can find information about Eurostar under the section ‘Other international services’ further down on this page.
Assistance
- Information can be found here
- Using the ‘passenger assistance app’
- By Phone: 0800 022 3720
- At least 2 hours in advance for domestic trips
- More information can be found here and here
Reservations
- If you need assistance, you can use the Passenger Assistance app or call by phone to make a reservation
- If you don't need assistance, you can make a reservation at any staffed ticket office
- Greek Islands (ferries)
-
Assistance & reservations
- By phone: +30 21 08 91 90 10
- Monday to Friday 09:00–20:00 (except for public holidays)
- By e-mail: cs@attica-group.com
- At least 48 hours in advance for domestic trips operated by Hellenic Train
Please note:
- Online booking is not available for Special Need Cabins and this type of cabin is not available on a per bed basis
- On board ATTICA GROUP vessels there are specially designed cabins with easy access and operation to accommodate disabled passengers. Due to a limited number of such cabins, it is necessary to reserve in advance
- By phone: +30 21 08 91 90 10
- Hungary
-
Assistance
- By phone: +36 630 053
- Requested by e-mail to: megrendeles@mav-start.hu
- At least 48 hours in advance for domestic and international trips
- More information can be found here and here
Reservations
- Online via MAV for domestic
- Fill your travel details and add your passenger information
- Go to 'Passenger data' and under 'Add discount', select 'International pass Global price'
- Enable ‘Seating position request’ after selecting the train
- Select ‘wheelchair’ or other preferences in next window
- Online for certain international routes via CD or ÖBB Ticket Shop
- At the train station
- Ireland
-
Assistance
- Can be requested by phone: + 353 703 4837
- By email: iewheelchairbookings@irishrail.ie
- Locally at the train station
- At least 24 hours in advance for trains operated by Irish Rail
- More information can be found here
Reservations
- Can be made online via Irish Rail
- Select ‘Reservation Only’ under passenger information and add a ‘Wheelchair space' in 'Wheelchair information'
- More information can be found here
- Italy
-
Assistance
- Information can be found via Sala Blue and here
- By phone: +39 02 32 32 32
- By email: SalaBlu.Nazionale@rfi.it (at least 24 hours in advance)
- In person at Sala Blue office
- Between 1 to 12 hours in advance depending on the train station
- At least 48 hours in advance for international trains
Reservations
- For EC Brenner to Innsbruck and Munich via ÖBB
- Add ‘passenger with disabilities’ and select ‘requires a wheelchair bay’ under passenger details
- Go to ‘seat reservations only’ under ‘find services’
- Additionally, a Brenner supplement is still needed for this train
- Domestic trains
- Locally at the railway station
- By email: SalaBlu.Nazionale@rfi.it (at least 24 hours in advance)
- In person at a Sala Blue office
- Latvia
-
Assistance
- Information can be found here
- By phone: +371 80 02 11 81
- Download and fill in Application form and send to uzzinas@ldz.lv
- At least 36 hours in advance for domestic trips by Pasazieru Vilciens
- More information can be found here
Reservations
- Can only be made at the train station
- Lithuania
-
Assistance
- Can be requested when booking a ticket via LTG Link (only regular point-to-point tickets)
- By phone: +370 700 55111
- By e-mail: mobilumas@ltglink.lt
- At least 24 hours in advance for domestic trips by LTG Link
- At least 48 hours in advance for international trips
- More information can be found here and here
Reservations
- Can only be made at the train station
- Can be requested when booking a ticket via LTG Link (only regular point-to-point tickets)
- Luxembourg
-
Assistance
- Information can be found here
- By phone: +352 2489 2489
- By e-mail: pmr@cfl.lu
- Up to 1 hour before your departure for domestic trips by CFL
- At least 24 hours in advance for international trips
Reservations
- By phone: +352 2489 2489
- At the train station
- Montenegro
-
Assistance
- There is no specific information on assistance available on the carrier's homepage
- Phone number for general information: + 382 20 441 003
- E-mail address for general information/complaints: info@zpcg.me
Reservations
- If possible, only locally at the train station
- Netherlands
-
For Eurostar trains, a special section is made further down under ‘Other international services’.
Assistance
- Can be requested here (An account is needed)
- By phone: +31 30 235 78 22
- At least 1 hour in advance for domestic trips by NS
- At least 48 hours in advance for international trips
- More information can be found here and here
Reservations
- Not required for domestic trips
- By phone: +31 30 2300023
- More information can be found here
- North Macedonia
-
Assistance
- There is no specific information on assistance available on the carriers’ homepage
- Phone number for general information: +389 (0)2/3248 701
- E-mail address for general information: gorgistankovski@mztransportad.com.mk
Reservations
- If possible, only locally at the train station
- Norway
-
Assistance
- Can be requested here
- By phone: +47 77 00 78
- By e-mail: assistanse@banenor.no
- The email must contain the following information:
- Name
- Telephone number
- What assistance is needed
- Departure station and desired meeting place at the station
- Arrival station
- Time of departure and arrival
- Information about wheelchairs (weight and size)
- Other important information
- The email must contain the following information:
- Information can also be found via VY, SJ Nord, and Go-Ahead Nordic
- At least 24 hours in advance for domestic trips
- A list of stations with assistance available can be found here
Reservations
- By phone: +47 61 27 90 88 (Entur)
- Entur can book trains of VY, Go-Ahead Nordic, and SJ Nord
- At the train station
- Poland
-
Assistance
- Can be requested here
- By phone: +48 22 391 97 57 (press 9 for English)
- By e-mail: pomocprm@pkp.pl
- At least 48 hours in advance for trips by PKP
- More information can be found here and here (both in Polish)
Reservations
- At the train station
- For most domestic trains online via PKP Intercity:
- Select your preferred train within the next 30 days
- Select Interrail/Eurail as a discount
- IC/EIP: Choose a wheelchair seat under ‘select in the graphic scheme’
- TLK: Select a wheelchair behind ‘Kind of coach’
- For certain international online trains via CD:
- Search for your preferred connection and select ‘reservations only’
- Click on ‘Buy’ and select ‘disabled persons’ under ‘specify seat’
- Romania
-
Assistance
- Can be requested here
- By phone: +40 73 19 90 987 or +40 73 19 90 129
- By e-mail: PRMcentral@cfrcalatori.ro
- At least 48 hours in advance for trips by CFR Călători
- More information can be found here and here
Reservations
- At the train station
- By phone: +40 73 19 90 987 or +40 73 19 90 129
- By e-mail: PRMcentral@cfrcalatori.ro
- Serbia
-
Assistance
- By phone: +381 11 360 28 99
- By e-mail: putnik.info@srbvoz.rs
- At least 24 hours in advance for domestic trips by Srbija Voz
- More information can be found here and here (in Serbian)
Reservations
- At the train station
- Slovakia
- Spain
-
Assistance
- Can be requested here
- By phone: +34 91 214 05 05
- By e-mail: oca.asistenciapmr@adif.es (also for International trips)
- In the ‘servicio de asistencia’ App (after having purchased a ticket)
- At least 30 minutes in advance at 69 stations with permanent service
- At least 12 hours in advance at 72 stations with a punctual service
- At least 48 hours in advance for International trips
- More information can be found here
Reservations
- By phone: +31 91 774 40 40
- By e-mail: oca.asistenciapmr@adif.es
- At the train station
- Sweden
-
Assistance
- Information can be found here
- By phone: +46 771 75 75 75 (touchtone 7)
- At least 24 hours in advance for domestic and international trips by SJ
- More information can be found here
Reservations
- Online via the SJ website
- Change the ‘SJ Prio/Period ticket’ under ‘Adult’ to ‘Interrail’
- After selecting a train, a wheelchair can be added under ‘select seat’
- By phone: +46771 75 75 75 (touchtone 7)
- Switzerland
- Türkiye
-
Assistance
- Locally at the station
- By phone: +90 444 82 33
- By e-mail: cozum@tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr
- At least 48 hours in advance for trips by TCDD
- More information can be found here (PDF in Turkish)
Reservations
- At the train station
Other international services
- Eurostar
-
Eurostar routes to and from London
Assistance
- An assistance form can be found here
- By phone:
- +44 3432 186 186 Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom
- +33 (0)1 70 70 60 in France
- +32 (0)2 400 67 76 in Belgium
- In London, Paris, and Brussels, you can turn up on the day without booking assistance (arrive at the meeting point at least 60 minutes before departure)
- At all other stations, it won’t be possible to organize assistance on the day. Travelers must make arrangements at least 24 hours in advance
- More information can be found here
- Guide dogs are allowed, but need to be requested at least 48 hours in advance
Reservations
- By phone: +44 3432 186 186
Eurostar routes between France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany
Assistance
- An assistance form can be found here
- By phone:
- In Belgium: +32 2 528 28 28
- In Germany: +49 30 652 12 888
- In France: (+33 1 84 94) 3635 #45 or (+33 1 84 94) 3635 -> say "services" -> "Accès Plus" (free service + local rate)
- In the Netherlands: +31 30 235 78 22
- At least 24 hours in advance as soon as you have made a booking
- More information can be found here
- Guide dogs are allowed, but need to be requested at least 48 hours in advance
Reservations
- By phone: +33 183 75 49 69
- An assistance form can be found here
Sharing travelers' experiences
Aleksi Kirjonen
Check out Aleksi Kirjonen's experiences of traveling in Europe with reduced mobility on his YouTube channel.
Kris Switser
Follow along on Kris Switser's travel adventures in Europe through her YouTube channel bucketkris.
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