Rail Europe

Opening of the new Lötschberg tunnel

Only 25 days to go before the new Lötschberg tunnel opens… and opens you new travel horizons!

Literally slicing through the Alps, the34,5km-long new train tunnel will be the quickest way to cross Switzerland from North to South by train, as it allows top speeds of 200Km/h (124 mph)!!!

As of the 9^th of December, it will not only significantly reduce journey times between South Switzerland and the rest of the country (making it easier to reach destinations such as Brig or Zermatt), but also speed up the trips between Italy and Switzerland! Check it out:

	Today	As of 09/12	Time savings
Zürich/Basel - Zermatt	4h 24min	3h 12min	1h 12min
Zürich/Basel - Brig	2h 42min	2h 08min	34 min
Bern - Zermatt	3h 18min	2h 08min	70 min
Bern - Brig	1h 36min	1h 04min	32 min
Milano - Bern	3h 16min	2h 44min	32 min
Milano - Basel	4h 27min	3h 55min	32 min

From 2008, there will be 6 daily services between Basel, Bern and Milano… and by 2009, Switzerland-Italy trips will be even more comfortable and faster with the new Cisalpino tilting trains, allowing an additional reduction of travel time by up to 60 minutes!!!

Tomorrow even more than today, rail will definitely be the best option to discover Switzerland, whose dense and efficient network offer the travellers a cost effective, scenic and comfortable way of travel. Make sure you make the most of it, thanks to the famous Swiss Pass, available from Rail Europe network.

For more information or to purchase your Swiss Pass, consult your Rail Europe travel agent www.raileurope.fr/wheretobuy.

One week to go until launch of Eurostar services from St Pancras International

MORE THAN ONE MILLION PASSENGERS BOOK TO TRAVEL ON HIGH SPEED 1 AS HM THE QUEEN OPENS ST PANCRAS INTERNATIONAL

ONE WEEK TO GO UNTIL LAUNCH OF EUROSTAR SERVICES
Tuesday 13 November – last trains from Waterloo International
Wednesday 14 November - first trains from St Pancras International

Rail Europe is glad to announce that Eurostar, the high-speed train operator linking the UK and the Continent, (Tuesday 6 November) has today taken more than 1 million bookings for travel on High Speed 1, the UK’s first 186mph line.
The milestone was passed with just one week to go before the launch of Eurostar services from St Pancras International, and represents an 11% increase in the number of bookings at the same time last year. It is further evidence that the prospect of making international rail journeys through the superbly restored station is proving highly popular with travellers between the UK and the Continent.
To! night’s royal opening of St Pancras International by HM Queen Elizabeth II signals the final seven days of preparation to move Eurostar’s entire London operations overnight from Waterloo, and to begin commercial services from Eurostar’s new central London home on the morning of Wednesday 14 November.
London & Continental Railways has completed the £5.8 billion engineering project on time and within budget.  While St Pancras International will next week become Eurostar’s new London terminal, High Speed 1 will provide Eurostar with a dedicated, 68-mile (109 km) high-speed line between central London and the Channel Tunnel. 
The new line will enable Eurostar trains to operate at 186mph (300 km/h) across Kent - 50% faster than any other UK rail service - cutting journey times between London and the Continent by at least 20 minutes.

To purchase Eurostar tickets, consult your Rail Europe travel agent www.raileurope.fr/wheretobuy.