Key takeaways
- A pass must be activated within 11 months of purchase.
- Buy during seasonal sales (often spring and autumn) to save.
- Buy early enough to book reservations on busy routes and night trains.
- Activation — not purchase — starts your validity window.
Buy on a sale, activate later
Because the pass does not start until you activate it, buying during a promotional sale and activating closer to your trip is a common way to save. Just keep within the activation deadline shown at purchase.
Leave time for reservations
Reservations for high-speed and night trains open weeks to a few months before departure and sell out on popular dates. Buy your pass early enough that you can secure those seats as soon as they are released.
Frequently asked questions
Does the pass expire if I buy it early?
You must activate the pass within 11 months of buying it. Once activated, its own validity window begins. Buying early is safe as long as you activate before that deadline.