Kamal Ghorui
Looking to explore abroad without breaking the bank? Rail passes could be your most pocket-friendly ticket!More and more Indian travellers are swaping their flight tickets for rail passes, as they move to explore Europe and East Asia. A recent 2025 data reviewed by ET shows a clear shift in how Indians are moving abroad, with train travel emerging as a key part of their itineraries. India now ranks as the second-largest market for the Swiss Travel Pass and fourth for Eurail tickets by share. About half of Rail Europe’s Indian demand comes from Eurail passes, while the remainder is for point-to-point travel. A spokesperson cited by the financial daily said that India has been among the top long-haul and strategic source markets for rail passes, alongside other countries such as US and Australia. Rising travel costs have accelerated this trend. With the euro surpassing Rs 100 and the Swiss franc crossing Rs 110, Indian travellers are seeking options that offer financial predictability. “The Indian market is demonstrating a clear preference for products that offer predictable costs and the freedom to adapt plans mid-journey,” an Eurail spokesperson told ET. Eurail passes cover more than 30 European countries. Families are increasingly jumping on the trend. Eurail reported an 8% year-on-year rise in child pass sales from 2023 to 2025. “This may be indicative of more families with young children considering travelling by train within Europe,” the company said. Switzerland remains a standout destination. The Swiss Travel Pass served over half a million passengers globally in 2025, with Indian travellers second only to those from the US. The Switzerland Travel System reported “double-digit growth” from India over the past three years and expects the trend to continue. The pass offers bundled mobility, combining rail travel with free or discounted access to hundreds of museums, cable cars, mountain railways, and tourist sites, including Glacier 3000 and St Moritz. Travel patterns are also changing. Traditionally, Indian tourists preferred summer holidays, but the Switzerland Travel System has noticed “significant demand” in the autumn-winter months. Multi-country trips combining Switzerland with France and Italy are on the rise. India’s outbound travel continues to grow, with 8.39 million Indians travelling abroad in July–September 2025, up 6.9% from the previous year. Europe and the US remain popular, while better air connectivity is also boosting travel to Asia-Pacific destinations. Japan exemplifies this rail-driven travel expansion. Indian arrivals hit 315,100 in 2025, up 35.2% year-on-year and nearly 80% higher than in 2019. Although Tokyo remained the most visited city, interest in regional destinations is also growing. Usage of the Kyushu Rail Pass has nearly tripled since 2018. “Although Tokyo and Osaka remain the most popular destinations, the number of Indian travellers visiting regional areas such as Kyushu is gradually increasing,” a spokesperson at Japan Railways Company said. “As the number of visits to Japan rises, we expect a greater flow of tourists into regional areas.” However, industry observers have flagged that dietary issues continue to be a challenge in parts of Asia, even as travellers explore beyond traditional routes.
