The flexible train ticket known as the Eurail Pass is rebranding itself as the Interrail Pass, effective Sept. 10. For many travelers, the old name evokes a bygone era of freewheeling European travel. In 1959, 13 countries across postwar Europe created Eurail, giving foreigners access to a flexible, unlimited train ticket that refused to confine travelers to a fixed route or destination.

By 2020, it covered 33 countries. The name change does not alter the product, price, or benefits; all existing Eurail Passes remain valid. Eurail discovered its key demographic in 1971 with the student pass for ages 14–26, boosting North American sales nearly 50% to over 130,000.

Today, 49% of pass holders are aged 12–27. Rick Steves, who took his first Eurail trip at 18 in 1973, said the name meant freedom and spontaneity, like choosing between Paris and Amsterdam on a whim. In 2023, Eurail sold 1.2 million passes, and has since averaged over a million annually.

Despite the rebrand, the name may linger unofficially, as longtime users like Laura Terrenzio admit it will be hard to stop saying “Eurail Pass.”.