Eurail is officially disappearing after more than 60 years, with the famous European rail travel brand adopting the Interrail name globally from 10th September 2026.
It’s a significant change for Australian travellers planning European adventures. Until now, Eurail passes have been sold to travellers from outside Europe, while Interrail has traditionally been the equivalent for European residents.
That distinction is now gone. Australians looking to travel around Europe by train will purchase an Interrail Pass, bringing travellers from around the world under the same brand for the first time.
Anyone who purchased a Eurail Pass before 10th September needn’t worry. Existing passes remain valid according to their original terms and conditions.
The rebrand arrives at an interesting time for European rail travel. Trains have become an increasingly attractive way to explore the continent, especially for travellers who would rather take their time than bounce between major cities on short-haul flights.
Interrail is leaning into that idea with its new global platform, The Interrail Effect, which focuses on what can happen between destinations. A train gives you the freedom to change your plans halfway through a journey or get off somewhere you hadn’t considered before. That unpredictability has always been one of the great pleasures of travelling Europe by rail.
“This is much more than a new name,” said Interrail Chief Brand and Commercial Officer Ozlem Birkalan. “Interrail represents a renewed vision for European travel that reflects how people increasingly want to explore today, more thoughtfully, more flexibly, and with greater curiosity.”
The timing also coincides with some genuinely useful additions to the European rail network.
Passenger trains between Finland and Sweden have returned after 38 years, allowing travellers to journey between Finland and continental Europe almost entirely by rail. Deutsche Bahn, meanwhile, has introduced twice-daily direct ICE services between Cologne and Antwerp.
France has opened up further for Pass holders as well. High-speed operator OUIGO joined the Eurail and Interrail network in July, adding considerably more choice on key French routes. That includes OUIGO’s slower Classique service between Paris and Brussels, which gives travellers another way of moving between the two capitals without flying.
There’s also an interesting new option for anyone heading deeper into Central and Eastern Europe. Czech carrier Leo Express launched a direct service between Przemyśl in Poland and Frankfurt Airport in June, running through Krakow and Prague before continuing into Germany. It’s one of Europe’s longest direct rail connections and, importantly for Australians, finishes at one of the continent’s biggest international airports.
Night trains are having a particularly welcome moment in Europe in response to rising accommodation costs. European Sleeper has just launched an overnight service connecting Brussels with Milan, giving travellers another alternative to flying between Belgium and northern Italy. From December, the train will also stop in Breda and Eindhoven.
The Berlin-Stockholm EuroNight also remains accessible to Interrail Pass holders following a change of operator in September.
For Australians, who tend to spend longer exploring Europe than many international visitors, these expanding connections make the unified Interrail Pass particularly interesting. There’s something inherently romantic about watching Europe pass by from a train window, but having the flexibility to change course is just as appealing. Some of my favourite travel memories have come from places I hadn’t given much thought to before arriving, and rail travel leaves plenty of room for those kinds of surprises.
Train travel has always been big business in Europe. It’s the continent where it makes the most sense, with the infrastructure to support such demand without causing mass frustration. With all the many issues surrounding air travel in Europe right now, including excessively long delays, cancellations, taxis and security chokepoints, the Eurail rebrand hits at the right time. With a user-friendly smartphone app, flexibility at the forefront, and an increasingly large list of daily options, it’s not hard to see the appeal of this for Aussie travellers of any age.
With our readers constantly darting around Europe for arts and music events, the Interrail Pass also works seamlessly alongside that dynamic sense of adventure. Say you’ve made a last-minute decision to catch the Biennale in Venice, only to hear about a one-off concert happening over in Graz a few days later. With an Interrail Pass, shifting your plans to make both work becomes considerably easier than searching for an increasingly expensive last-minute flight, especially when Venice and Graz are connected by direct trains.
Eurail Passes are no longer available for new purchases. Australian travellers heading to Europe by rail can now purchase an Interrail Pass instead.
