Trains
Trains abroad
Country by country: who runs the trains, how far ahead tickets open, whether a foreign card works, and the way around when nothing does. Written for a first trip.
The one rule everywhere
Iranian bank cards fail on every foreign railway site. Each page says what works instead: a card from outside Iran, cash at the station, a reseller that takes rial, or someone abroad buying for you.
- TurkeyTCDD TaşımacılıkForeign cards usually work
- GeorgiaVerify before you planGeorgian RailwayForeign cards usually workCash at the station
- ArmeniaVerify before you planSouth Caucasus RailwayCard rule unverifiedCash at the station
- AzerbaijanADY (Azerbaijan Railways)Card rule unverified
- RussiaRZD (Russian Railways)No foreign cardsCash at the station
- ChinaChina Railway (12306)Foreign cards usually work
- IraqIraq RailwaysCard rule unverifiedCash at the station
- IndiaVerify before you planIndian Railways (IRCTC)Card rule unverified
- MalaysiaVerify before you planKTMB (KTM ETS)Card rule unverified
- ThailandVerify before you planState Railway of Thailand (SRT)Foreign cards unreliable
- SerbiaVerify before you planSrbijavozCard rule unverified
- GermanyVerify before you planDeutsche BahnCard rule unverified