Long-distance rail pass or individual ticket?

Should you get a rail pass or order individual tickets? It's confusing to figure out on your own, but here are some tips:

• where are you going?

• when are you traveling?

• how many days are you traveling?

• how many people are in your group?

• does your group include children (below 18) or youth (up to age 25)?

The problem with rail passes

All-inclusive rail passes are ridiculously easy; for the number of days you purchase the pass, you show up at participating stations and get on any train to anywhere you want. Too many Americans who are unfamiliar with rail travel purchase passes for just this reason; it's easier than learning something new.

Unfortunately, most rail passes are ridiculously expensive, too. Unless you're going to spend most of your time on trains, you won't earn your money back. Rail passes also don't work within city confines; most cities have their own transit systems that are independent of rail passes.

You're likely to save more money by planning your rail journey long before you're standing on the platform.

Where are you going?

Most nations and some regions offer special deals, like Germany's Happy Weekend ticket which allows up to five people to ride for a flat fee on national holidays and on the weekends until 3 a.m. the next day.

Remember, too, the difference between long-distance rail travel vs. regional or city travel. You may be able to travel from York, England to London, England, for example, but that's on National Rail. Once you arrive in London, you need to make different arrangements for the city's public transportation; the only time your national rail pass would work is at one of the National Rail stations in the city, like London Victoria or London Waterloo.

When are you traveling?

Weekend vs. weekday makes a difference. In some countries, like England, so can peak (rush hour) vs. off-peak timing.

When possible, travel during off-peak times. You're more likely to find a seat and less likely to be pickpocketed.

This is another example where planning ahead pays off. If you try to catch a train from York to London Kings Cross tomorrow during peak time of 8 a.m., it will cost you about 132 sterling pounds. If you travel mid-day tomorrow, it will cost you about 70 sterling pounds.

That gap widens when you plan ahead even more. If you buy tickets for three months from now, that peak-time rate is about 47 sterling pounds. Travel mid-day, three months from now, and it drops to about 28 sterling pounds.

How many days are you traveling?

If you're only traveling two or three days out of a weeklong trip, you're not going to spend enough on rail travel to justify a rail pass. To calculate the difference, just visit the country's rail site (it's impossible to list them all here; let Google help you).

How many people are in your group?

The number of people traveling matters because often more than one person can travel on a special offer. In Germany, for example, up to five people can travel on one ticket. Just know the rules! "Being a tourist" or "not understanding" will not relieve you of steep fines for breaking rules.

Does your group include children or youth?

Many long-distance rail networks allow young children, up to age 6, to travel free when accompanied by an adult. Many more long-distance rail networks offer steep discounts for passengers through age 25.

Sometimes rail passes make sense

If you're too spontaneous to plan ahead and you plan to travel long distances (beyond cities' public transportation networks), a rail pass might make sense. For everyone else, it's likely a waste of money.

Want to know more?

No rail journey is complete without checking Mark Smith's site, The Man in Seat 61. You'll find comparisons, tours, special offers and more.