This article explains the different features of the Planner, so you can plan and customize your trip to your liking. While it might look simple at first, it includes many useful features and tools.
The Planner regularly downloads scheduled train times for most train companies in Europe whenever you have an internet connection. If you're offline, you can still use the timetable information that was last downloaded to the app.
Some countries also provide live travel information, including real-time updates on disruptions, platform changes, and travel times. You can find the list of supported countries below.
Which countries have live timetable information available?
The following countries and carriers provide live timetable information: Austria (OBB), Belgium (SNCB), France (SNCF), Germany (DB), The Netherlands (NS), Switzerland (SBB CFF FFS) and United Kingdom (Only Eurostar).We still recommend checking the website of the operating train company for any last-minute schedule changes.
Live travel information is available in both the Planner and My Trip sections of the app. Make sure you're using the latest version of the travel app to access all features and receive the most up-to-date information.
The live timetable can show:
- Departure and arrival times
- Travel duration
- Platform numbers
- Information on train cancellations and disruptions
Planner Detailed View
When opening the Planner, you'll see the screen above. In section 1, enter the route you want to travel. In section 2, select your preferred departure date and time. Don't forget to check the Filters button in section 3, which offers several options to customize your journey suggestions (see below).
Filters
The most popular filters are:
- Adding a stop (via): Tap Add and enter your desired stop. This can help create a specific route, for example if you want to meet a friend or avoid routes with mandatory seat reservations. You can enter a station manually or select one from nearby stations detected by GPS.
- No seat reservations required: Filters out trains that require seat reservations, helping you avoid additional reservation costs.
- Pass network only: Filters out trains that are not included in the Pass.
- Number of train changes: Limit the number of train changes in your itinerary. Keep in mind this may increase travel time.
- Transfer time: Increase the time between connections for a more comfortable transfer.
Once you've selected your filters, hit the ‘update’ button and return to the planner. Then enter your route, date, and time, and tap Search.
The results screen displays recommended itineraries based on the quickest travel time and may not include every available option. Use the filters above to further customize your results. For additional planning tips, please check out this article.
Note: some countries are not included in the Planner, you can find more information here.
After searching for a journey, you'll see:
- Departure time --> Arrival time. If you see ‘+1 day’ next to your arrival time, your journey arrives the following day. To check whether this requires one or two travel days, please read this article.
- Travel duration (clock icon) and number of train changes (🔀 symbol).
- Route information, including seat reservation requirements or recommendations (with a price indication) and notices when part of the itinerary falls outside the Interrail network.
Tap a route to view the full itinerary.
In this overview, you can see the trains you'll take, where you'll change trains, and the transfer times included in your itinerary. Tap the arrow next to the departure station to view all intermediate stops. This can be useful for checking your train's progress while travelling.
Seat Reservations
If seat reservations are available, you can book them using the link at the bottom of the page. Tap Book seat reservations to visit Interrail's website and purchase the required reservation. Any reservations booked through Interrail's website will appear under: (More > Seat reservations > Your bookings).
If you're happy with the itinerary, tap Save journey to add it to your trip. All saved journeys will appear in the My Trip section. You can find more information about My Trip here. Keep in mind that journeys cannot be modified after the travel day has ended. If you're looking for a quick guide on creating your QR code, please check out this article.