Rail Europe

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.

Eurostar sets a new record for the journey between Brussels and London

Rail Europe is delighted to announce that last Thursday, 20th of September, Eurostar, the high-speed train operator that links the UK with the European Continent, achieved the fastest journey time ever between Brussels and London, setting a new record for the journey between the Belgian and British capitals.

It took just 1 hour and 43 minutes to cover the 373 km (232 mile) distance, travelling at 300km/h (186mph) on the UK’s new high-speed line, High Speed 1. It was also the first run from Brussels to arrive at St.Pancras International, Eurostar's new terminal in the heart of London, , which will open on 14th November 2007.

On board the inaugural run were 12 journalists from Australia, Japan, India, South Korea, Hong-Kong, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina & Malaysia, invited by Rail Europe and Eurostar to discover high-speed Europe. This journey closed the week long 2007 Rail Europe Press Trip, which this year focused on the high ! speed trains members of the rail alliance, RailTeam, of which Eurostar is a founder member.

On the 5th of September, Eurostar also broke the record between Paris and London, with a run of just 2 hours and 3 minutes and 39 seconds!) for the 492 km distance, running at speeds of up to 320km/h (200 mph) on the French and British High Speed Lines.

From 14 November, the scheduled non-stop time between St Pancras International and Brussels will be 1 hour and 51 minutes, cutting at least 20 minutes off the current journey time from Waterloo. The time savings between Paris and London will also be at least 20 minutes, and the scheduled non-stop time will be 2 hours 15 minutes. Richard Brown, Chief Executive of Eurostar, said: "Today’s journey puts London and Brussels firmly within the ‘two hour club". Eurostar is quite simply the fastest, most convenient way to travel – avoiding wasted time and money in getting to out-of-town airports, lengthy! check-in times, and baggage reclaim delays.

From 14 November, E urostar will also move to its new London terminal overnight, with services at Waterloo ending the previous evening.

Eurostar tickets are available through Rail Europe’s accredited sales agents in your country.
Just log on to www.raileurope.fr/wheretobuy to find their contact details.

Eurostar is moving. 14th November 2007

Rail Europe is glad to announce that from 24th July, travellers can book their Eurostar tickets to/from Saint Pancras International for their journeys between 14th to 19th November through Rail Europe's accredited sales agents. The sales to/from the other new station, Ebbsfleet International, are also open.

Wednesday, 14th November 2007 will be a big day for Eurostar. It's the day they launch services from / to Saint Pancras International in central London and the day Eurostar starts running on High Speed 1, the UK's first high speed line.

HS1 (High Speed 1)

High Speed 1 is the biggest engineering project in the UK for over 100 years. With 109 km of high speed track (a quarter of it underground), HS1 will allow Eurostar to travel at its full speed of 300 kmh (186 mph) all the way from the centre of London to the Channel tunnel. Thanks to this new high speed line, journey times will be reduced by at least 20 minutes to offer more seamless journeys and trains will be even more punctual.
Journey times from/to Saint Pancras International will be as follows:
Paris: 2h15
Brussels: 1h51
Lille: 1h20

Saint Pancras International

On 14th November, Eurostar moves from Waterloo International Station and launches services from Saint Pancras International in central London. As of this date, all journeys will depart from/arrive to Saint Pancras International and no longer from Waterloo International.

Saint Pancras is a beautiful Victorian station, with red rubber bricks and streaky bacon stone. It is being transformed, setting new standards for a railway station in the XXIst century. Taking inspiration from New York’s Grand Central Terminal, Saint Pancras International will be “Europe’s destination station”.
The modern Saint Pancras has been designed with the customer at its heart, with a world class brasserie, arcade shopping and a daily farmers’ market selling the very best, fresh, British and Continental products. And last but not least, overlooking the platforms will be the longest Champagne Bar of Europe!

To top it off, Saint Pancras International has also the best connectivity of all the central London stations. It has 6 underground lines and is close to 7 mainline operators at Saint Pancras International, King’s Cross and Euston. Travellers can easily reach the north of England, discover the rolling countryside of the Lake District and the jewels of Scotland.

Kent stations

Ebbsfleet International
On 19th November will open a new Kent station, Ebbsfleet International.
Between Ashford and London, conveniently located close to major highways including M25, M20, M2, A2, the Dartford Crossing and Bluewater shopping centre, Ebbsfleet will offer an easy “park and ride” option to many travellers.
High speed domestic services from Ebbsfleet International will begin in 2009, taking travellers to Saint Pancras International in 17 minutes flat at speeds up to 225 kmh / 140 mph. It will become both an international and domestic rail hub with easy access by rail to all of Kent.

Ashford
Eurostar will still run services from Ashford International and its services will complement those offered at Ebbsfleet International.
Services stopping at Ashford International will be timed to suit both Leisure and Business travellers. There will be 3 trains a day to Paris along with the daily direct Eurostar to Disneyland and the weekly Avignon trains during the summer.

For more information about these services or to purchase an Eurostar ticket, please consult your Rail Europe travel agent. List to be found on www.raileurope.fr/wheretobuy

EUROPEAN HIGH SPEED RAIL OPERATORS LAUNCH RAILTEAM

Railteam makes international travel on high-speed trains
to and from Europe easy for travellers

Real alternative to air alliances and to travel by car

By 2010, 25 million international travellers on European
high-speed rail network

Rail Europe, the leading distributor of European Rail Products overseas is glad to advertise that on 2 July 2007, seven European high speed train operators announced the start of Railteam. SNCF (France), SBB (Switzerland), Eurostar (UK, France and Belgium), Deutsche Bahn (Germany), SNCB (Belgium), NS Hispeed (The Netherlands), ÖBB (Austria), and subsidiaries Thalys, Lyria and Alleo offer then to give travellers seamless high-speed train travel across international borders in Western Europe.

The already wide range of products of Rail Europe, with a Western European high speed rail network that links over 45 major urban destinations in Europe via over 4,700km of track, will keep on growing as the network will stretch to 6,000 km by 2010 and will triple in size by 2020. However, despite the size and continuing growth of the high speed rail network, many international travellers remain unaware of the benefits of taking high speed rail.

Easy, faster and seamless journeys.

From today, if for any reason, a traveller misses their connection because of a late running service, Railteam will ensure they can hop on the next train, irrespective of the ticket type they have.

Rail Europe’s offer will gain in quality with the diffusion of multi-lingual information onboard trains and in stations that will ensure international travellers know where, when and how to connect onto other services.

Railteam information points will be installed in the five main hubs (Brussels, Cologne, Lille, Frankfurt and Stuttgart), and in the coming months, at other major stations such as London, Strasbourg, Amsterdam and in the main high-speed train stations in Paris.

To reduce transit times for travellers, Railteam partners will also better coordinate connecting departure and arrival times.

Railteam members are investing 30 million euro in a new distribution system that will allow international travellers to find an attractive combination of prices, make a reservation, pay, and receive their ticket from Rail Europe in one transaction.  The new system will go live in 2009.

Railteam also will seek to introduce new innovations as technologies develop over forthcoming years such as text messaging about timetables and service disruptions.

A greener and mart choice: the choice of the future!

Rail Europe expects that with travel on high-speed trains becoming even easier and smoother, increasing numbers of travellers will opt for environmentally friendly high speed train travel within Europe. It is common knowledge that high speed rail journeys release significantly less carbon dioxide than flying to the same destinations.

Extensive research has also shown that business travellers are willing to travel up to four hours on rail because of the increased productivity versus the airlines, whilst leisure travellers are prepared to enjoy longer journeys of around 6 hours.

By 2010, the Railteam members expect 25 million international travellers to be using their European high-speed rail network.

Guillaume Pepy, Chief Executive Officer of SNCF said: “It is achievable when you consider that Rail is served by city centre terminals. Factor in the transport time,travelling to airports, grinding traffic jams, security delays ans so on, and it’s pretty clear that on travel times alone high-speed rail is, at the very least, a realistic alternative on any journey across the Railteam member states”

“High-speed rail represents the future of sustainable, comfortable travel across Europe.”

Discover the gems of Eastern Europe!

Rail Europe is glad to announce the launch on April, 1st of two new Eurail Regional passes, the Eurail Czech Republic-Germany Pass and the Eurail Germany-Poland Pass. Make the most of your time in Europe and visit Germany's admirable neighbours…

The Czech lands have been the crossroads of European cultures for centuries… With 12 Unesco World Heritage sites, you'll have much to enjoy!  Culture, vibrant cities, charming villages, Romantic Praha, Spa towns… you could see it all!

Not yet as famous as the Czech Republic, Poland is becoming a popular holiday destination, thanks to its fascinating mixture of old and new, from medieval castles and festivals to modern art galleries. You could also enjoy a great variety of stunning sights, with superb landscapes, mountains as well as the beautiful Baltic coast.

Both the Eurail Czech Republic-Germany Pass and the Eurail Germany-Poland Pass are available through Euronet, Rail Europe's online distribution system. They provide rail travel flexibility in the corresponding countries, in 1st and 2nd class, and are available for 5/6/8 or 10 days within two months. Cherry on the cake, Pass holders will also benefit from bonuses in Germany, as free sailings on boats operated by the “KD German Rhine Line” making regular runs on the river Rhine between Köln and Mainz and on the river Mosel between Koblenz and Cochem.

If choosing between Czech Republic and Poland is a too cruel dilemma, Rail Europe offers you other travel alternatives with the European East Pass for instance, which will enable you unlimited travel on the national rail networks of Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Hungary.

Passes, Point to Point tickets and reservations can be puchased through Rail Europe's General Sales Agents' network. For a complete list of Rail Europe’s representatives, just log on to: www.Raileurope.fr/wheretobuy.

Christmas markets

Should you find yourself wondering what to do with your last few weeks in December BEFORE Christmas, Rail Europe has some excellent suggestions to bring interesting alternatives to the traditional approach to Christmas. Come explore some of continental Europe’s Christmas markets. Yes, they will bring back all the magic of Christmas, with their log cabins, hand-craft gifts, delicious smells of mulled wine and regional savouries, you’ll give yourself a welcome break from the usual Christmas stress and no doubt find some beautiful, original gifts. It provides memorable sights, sounds and smells for all the family. 

Christmas markets date back to the 16th century, when religious holidays were also social events with fairs and entertainment. This tradition continues in France, Germany, Belgium, Italy and the Scandinavian countries. What better way to take the pain and commercialisation out of Christmas shopping than to visit some of the best-known Christmas markets by train.       

                                       

Rail Europe has selected some of the top Christmas markets in Europe for short week-end breaks, easily accessible by train:

• Strasbourg Christmas Market (Christkindelsmarik): Place Broglie through to rue de la Comédie are a wonderland for children and adults. Renowned for its traditional gifts, wines and foods, the Strasbourg Christmas market attracts tourists looking for new ideas for Christmas... since the 16th century! The market opens 26th November to 23rd December.

• Lille’s Christmas market on Place Rihour entertains and delights tourists and locals alike every year with stalls selling gifts, arts and crafts and northern delicacies. Don’t miss the music and entertainment each Saturday with a big concert held on the last Saturday before Christmas.

• Go south for Provençal Christmas markets! Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Arles, numerous cities and towns in the south of France hold their Christmas markets with the well-known provençale “santons” or figurines dressed in their traditional costumes and work garbs of gone-by days. Wines and local gastromic delights are for sale as well as music and street theatre for children... not forgetting Santa’s hut!

• German Christmas markets – from Bremen in the north, to Berlin, Cologne, Koblenz and Freiburg, German Christmas markets are set against the back-drop of beautiful historic squares and City Halls (“Rathaus”), with music, stalls, tempting dishes and wines and beers for this special season.

         

• Try an Alpine Italian Christmas markets – high in the Dolomites, or in the surrounding Alpine cities, experience the beauty of the snow-covered mountains, the Italian hand-craft gifts and wondeful food to enjoy an atmospheric experience.

• Belgian Christmas markets – The Brussels annual Christmas market takes place in Place St. Catherine with its wonderful bright lights from the beginning to the end of December. For the first time this year, young children can ice-skate on the nearby ice-rink to bring a real atmosphere of Christmas. Find all kinds of gifts and ideas in these magical surroundings. Nearby on the coast, Ostend also holds its annual market with stalls, boutiques, all cheefully lit up for the occasion.

• Swiss Christmas markets – Basel is one of Switzerland’s most popular Christmas markets, when the city is alight with lights and stands selling all types of gifts.

Rail Europe, the World’s largest distributor of European rail travel offers travellers a number of easy solutions to visit Christmas markets in several countries or to visit several Christmas markets within a specific country:

• Eurail Select Pass – With this 1st class pass, travellers can visit 3,4 or 5 adjoining countries connected by train. It would be possible, for example, to visit the Brussels, Cologne, Paris and Strasbourg Christmas markets. It would also be possible to visit, Freiburg, Berlin, Prague and Vienna.

• Eurail Regional and National passes – There are many combinations for regional and national passes. All enable travellers to use the train in countries where are held Christmas markets. The passes offer you unlimited travel by train in the country / region covered. They are valid for 2 months, available in 1st or 2nd class, with great flexibility (“continuous” or “flexi” formulas).

• City to city tickets – Enjoy selected destinations at high speed! Rail Europe indeed sells a unique range of high speed trains, to quote but a few: Eurostar (London-Paris/Brussels), Thalys (Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam/Cologne), TGV (France), ICE (Germany), Artesia (France-Italy), Lyria (France-Switzerland) and Italian fast trains, allowing you to visit and experience many different traditions and atmospheres even during a short stay in Europe

For more information on passes and tickets, please contact your Rail Europe agent: www.raileurope.fr/wheretobuy.

SANTA CLAUS IN FINLAND

Rail Europe, the leading services supplier of European rail passes and tickets, brings you to the heart of Christmas action in Finland. Discover Santa Claus’ Village way up beyond the Artic Circle in Rovaniemi, Lapland.

Everyone knows that good old Santa heads off to deliver gifts to children all over the world on Christmas Eve and millions of children awaken on Christmas morning to the excitement and trepidation of sleepily slipping over to the Christmas tree to discover their gifts. But did you know it is possible to visit the Santa Claus village? Children and grown-ups can journey through the Santa’s home town, where both the elves and Santa work away throughout the year to prepare for this magical night. Discover the secrets, the day to day activities, Santa’s house, all tucked away in this amazing village.

Within a short distance of the northern town of Rovaniemi, visitors to Finland’s Christmas paradise can also visit the reindeer Park and the Santa Park. Children and adults will enjoy the Christmas House, where they can admire the Finnish Christmas traditions, learn about other traditions around the world and see the Elves Factory. An unforgettable trip in the snow covered landscape of Finland.

Looking for more? Your trip to Finland can also be the opportunity to visit other Scandinavian countries. What with the natural wonders (Fjords, Aurora Borealis, …), warm and welcoming traditions, and charming people… There’s definitely a lot to discover and enjoy in Northern Europe!

For your travels in Finland and Scandinavia, Rail Europe’s passes will make your life easier:

• The Eurail Finland Pass  is valid in 1st and 2nd class and entitles you to unlimited travel for 3, 5 or 10 days within a one month period. With this pass, you can take any of the Finnish Railways’ trains, be it fast trains, InterCity trains, Express trains or Night trains. If you travel with children, the night train is the best option for Lapland – children will enjoy the excitement of the night train, sleeping in the cabins and wakening up to the magic of Lapland and Santa Claus’ Village.

• With the ScanRail Pass you’ll have the possibility to visit Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The pass includes ferry boat lines between Denmark and Germany and exists in different validities (flexi or consecutive days) in 2nd class to better suit your travel needs.

For more information on the Rail Europe passes, please contact your Rail Europe agent www.raileurope.fr/wheretobuy.

TGV Méditerranée

Five years after its launch, over 100 million business and leisure travellers have used the high-speed service between Paris-Marseille (with stops at Avignon, Aix-en-Provence), Paris-Montpellier and Paris Toulon. These cities and towns conjure dreams of holidays, cultural activities, lavender, beautiful countryside and villages for leisure travellers from not just France but also Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. Nicknamed TGV Med, this train quickly won its passengers’ affection and participated to the economical development of the region. For the business traveller, these cities are accessible in a day’s travel thereby increasing business opportunities and opening up exchanges in a fast-moving, global economy.

Reduced journey times between the different cities explain the 75,000 daily passengers who travel on the TGV Méditerranée. Marseille and Paris, for example, are 3 hours apart, Lyon and Avignon are 1 hour apart and Lille, up in the north of France is only 5 hours away from Montpellier. In 2005, 2 million people went through Aix-en-Provence. The number of connections has increased alongside the number of passengers, for example, today there are 17 daily services between Marseille and Paris. Market share for the rail/air modes of transport have shifted considerably in favour of the train which now has 66% of the market.

Development plans for the TGV Méditerranée plan to link Northern and Southern Europe between 2009 and 2011. New high-speed lines between Figueras in Spain and Perpignan in France, between the Riviera and the Alps and the Rhine-Rhone line will facilitate access to the south of France for over 10 million passengers. Barcelona will be 2h15 from Montpellier and 3h45 from Marseille. With the new TGV Est EUROPEEN service, Mulhouse will be a mere 4h35 from Montpellier and Strasbourg only 5h from Marseille.

Tourism is a major economic force for the southern region which welcomes over 35 million tourists per annum. Surveys carried out demonstrate that TGV Méditerranée with its reduced journey times and city centre to city centre connections has contributed to an increase in passengers and short-term stays.

To celebrate its 5th birthday, French Railways is associated with Aix-en-Provence’s big annual celebration of Cezanne. This world famous painter renowned for his works on Sainte Victoire mountain – 44 oil paintings and 43 water paintings in total feature this beautiful scenery – is toast of the year in Aix. At the TGV station in Aix-en-Provence, passengers can view reproductions of some of Cezanne’s famous works and compare passengers’ viewpoints of the famous mountain. One of the TGV trains has even been decorated in Cezanne’s colours. It will circulate between 7th June and the end of September.

For more information on the TGV Méditerranée and its services, time-tables and reservations, please contact your agent www.raileurope.fr/wheretobuy

Thalys’ 10th anniversary

Thalys celebrates its 10th birthday in June 2006. Ten exciting years down the line, Thalys has pioneered a number of records! For example, it won the lion’s share of the international business and tourist market from the airlines. Its train drivers pioneered cross-border journeys in Europe, working with 4 electrical systems and 7 signalling systems when it was launched. As a result, the entire international system is being revised and the ERTMS system is currently being installed.

When launched in 1996, Thalys initially linked Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. In the early days, journey times between Paris and Brussels were just over 2 hours, while Paris-Amsterdam was just under 5 hours at 4h47.

A year later, in 1997, journey times came down to 1h25 on the Paris-Brussels line with the opening of the high speed line. Paris-Amsterdam dropped to just over 4 hours. Aachen and Cologne in Germany joined the Thalys network. And within two years, the French and Belgian railways set up Thalys International, a company based in Brussels, with the German and Dutch railways as partners.

Thalys International introduced direct services like the Thalys Snow train to the ski resort, Bourg St Maurice in the winter of 1998 and for sun-seekers, in 2002, Thalys Sun brought holiday-makers to Avignon and Marseille, a direct link to the beaches of the south of France. Broad-band was offered free of charge in 2005, for business travellers, who made up - in that same year - 48% of the travelling public.

In 10 years, a staggering 52 million people travelled on the Thalys, with traffic growing over 5% in the last two years. In 2005 alone, 6 million travellers (business and tourists) filled the distinctive red Thalys trains. Passenger satisfaction rates run at a high 88% and service reliability is 95%.

For more information on the 160 year old story of relations between the railways on the Paris-Brussels-Cologne-Amsterdam line, please visit the specially designed internet site www.thalystory.com.

To reserve seats this summer on Thalys, please contact your Rail Europe agent: www.raileurope.fr/wheretobuy.

Berlin’s new station

In the previous edition of the news release, Germany was mentioned in connection with the speeding up of its high speed trains and increased services in preparation for the World Cup. Once again, Germany is in the news, this time for the opening of its new central train station in Berlin. DB, German Railways, describe it as the largest multi-level interchange station in Europe, due to its north-south link and the network of long-distance and regional trains.

Berlin’s history partially explains the necessity to re-think and re-build its rail network, as rail services were part of the whole scheme to keep East and West Germany separate. Prior to the fall of the wall in 1989, rail services from West Germany travelled non-stop to West Berlin. On the East German side, trains travelled from the East only to East Berlin with no trafic going through West Berlin. When Germany was reunified, trains could only come to Berlin from the east or west side, adding on additional time to journeys. The challenge therein was to identify a location which would enable north-south lines to operate with sufficient space to build a brand new station to serve trains travelling east-west and north-south: the solution lay in the former Lehrter station to the north of central Berlin. The concept which was adopted is similar to a mushroom in shape, incorporating existing main lines and new main lines. The project included the construction of 6 new tracks – 4 for mainline trains and 2 for S-Bahn.

When the new station opens 28th May, the number of long-distance trains passing through Berlin will increase from 388 to 439 per day. The opening of the north-south line will mean a time saving of between 40 and 50 minutes, for example, Berlin-Leipzig will be an hour apart, compared to 1h50 and Berlin to Stralsund will be 2h40 compared to 3h20.      

The 10€ billion project was designed by Gerkan, Marg and Partners, an architect firm from Hamburg, and its impressive glass roof reaches a height of 16m and is 321m long. The east-west platforms are located on the top tier at 10m off the ground. On the ground level, there are the links to the public transport system as well as shops, restaurants and cafés. Underground, there is a car park for 900 cars and 150 bicycles. The deepest level at 15m underground is where the platforms for long-distance and regional trains, as well as the U-Bahn converge.
                                                               

Beginning of June, travellers to the Berlin station, Potsdamer Platz and from the end of June, travellers in the French train station, Gare du Nord will be able to view the travelling exhibition dedicated to the new Berlin station. This is part of a kick-off twinning operation to associate the two stations. The twinning operation will be extended to other major train stations in Europe.

For more information on getting to, about and from Berlin by train, please contact your agent: www.raileurope.fr/wheretobuy

Sweden

Sweden stretches from the tip of Denmark right up to the Artic circle and offers a breath-taking mix of city and magnificent landscape. From the Scandi cool of Stockholm with its water-front cafés, bars and meandering streets to the Castle or other sights, or the cities of Gothenburg or Malmö to refreshing lakes and forests which cover thousands of kilometers, Sweden offers a wonderful vista for holiday-makers.

Whilst travellers can enjoy Sweden at all times of the year, Midsummer is a particularly magic moment, when Swedes enjoy traditions which date back to the depths of time and head out from the cities to their country homes, cottages and camping sites. To experience the magic of Midsummer is to suddenly realise that there is no night... the light diminishes somewhat but darkness is a distant memory.

Due to its length, the most practical ways of visiting Sweden is to take trains. On arrival at the international airport of Arlanda, travellers can experience first-hand the 21st century Swedish approach to transport on the Arlanda train service. SJ, one of the rail operators and formerly Swedish Railways, provides different types of services to meet travellers requirements, like for example the high speed train X 2000, which travels between several major cities offering a relaxing and environmental way of exploring the country. Cities included on the X 2000 routes are Stockholm, Malmö, Jönköping, Karlstad, Gävle and Sundsvall. Connections between the major cities are frequent – Stockholm to Gothenberg is a mere 3 hours by train with 16 trains per day, compared with over 4 hours by road, while Gothenburg to Malmö is also 3 hours apart with 12 trains per day. New carriages have been added to the X 2000 fleet of trains with new on-board services including a new Bistro serving meals and snacks to meet all tastes and budgets. Plug-ins are available for music and radio at all seats. For those obliged to work on board, it is possible to reserve seats with access to electrical sockets to recharge PCs or mobile phones. X 2000 trains are all equiped to cater for disabled travellers.

InterCity services run on longer distances and also provide a high level of on-board services to ensure that travellers can relax or work. These trains have first and second class carriages offering light meal services or trolley service.  For travellers looking to visit the regions or smaller towns, there are regional services in operation with regular stops.

Double-decker trains were introduced on some lines in 2005 and currently run between Stockholm, Eskilstuna and Arboga on a limited scale. Lastly, night trains are a popular means of transport for longer journeys in Sweden. As a comfortable option to the airplane, night trains include services between Gothenberg-Ostersund return, approximately half way up the country towards the north, or Malmo-Ostersund/Sundsvall, or even Malmö-Stockholm. Breakfast is served to first class travellers in the morning along with the newspaper. A novelty on some of the night trains is the cinema carriage, designed as a real theatre with two films showing nightly until after midnight. Nearby the cinema carriage, the Bistro offers meals service and is fully licensed. Cartoons are also previewed for children, free of charge. The cinema is currently running on the Gothenburg /Stockholm-Sundsvall/Ostersund line. Night trains, run by a different operator, Connex, offer connections to major cities within Scandinavia – Copenhagen, Oslo, Narvik and internationally to Berlin. One of Europe’s longest train routes is between Gothenberg and Narvik way up in the north of Norway, stretching over 2,000 km and taking in one journey approximately 20 hours. The scenery is undescribably beautiful as the journey goes through the rich farmlands of the south, through the forests and national parks, up to the rugged Artic mountain scenery down to the Norwegian fjords.

Rail Europe’s Scanrail Pass is particularly interesting for travellers, as valid for travel in Sweden, but also Norway, Denmark and Finland. The Scanrail Pass is for 2nd class travel only and can be used during a 21 day period for travel through all the above mentioned countries. It is possible to upgrade from 2nd to 1st class on some of the train services. The Scanrail Pass is valid on Inland ferry services between Denmark and Germany and on bus services in the north of Sweden between Lulea / Boden and Haparanda.

For more information on the terms and conditions of use for the Rail Europe Scanrail pass, please contact your agent.

2006 - TGV’s 25th birthday

What better way to celebrate a prestigious birthday – a look at what has been accomplished in 25 short years and an overview of plans and projects in store. The network is extending to cover continental Europe and linking in to high-speed services in the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Italy. High-speed train services are offering a competitive, safe, fast and environmentally friendly means of travel throughout these countries, opening up business and leisure potential for Europe’s connected travellers.

In total 1,2 billion people travelled on the TGV since its maiden trip back in September 1981 on the Paris-Lyon line. As a foretaste of things to come, Paris-Lyon was only 2 hours, city centre to city centre and the business and leisure worlds of both cities were brought together in closer proximity. Since 1981, the number of cities linked by TGVs has increased considerably within and outside of the country’s border. Today, 650 TGVs  run on a daily basis, bringing French and international cities closer together. The TGV has profoundly modified travelling habits.

TGV (“Train à Grande Vitesse” = high speed train) really brings French and European travellers closer together, faster. And safer. Operating at speeds of 300km/hour, the new services will run at 320km/hour on the TGV Est EUROPEEN lines.

Key figures for a 25 year old:
• 80 million people took the TGV in 2005 compared to 65 million in 2004,
• 100 million people in France and Europe travelled on the TGV in 2005
• 250 TGV stations
• 1,540 kilometers of TGV fast tracks in France and Europe

In terms of trains (rolling stock in the jargon), design and comfort have constantly improved. The first orange trains with their sharp “nose” were gradually replaced with more rotond blue and grey locomotives and carriages. Interior comfort evolved to give passengers more luggage space, more seat room, more versatility in the carriages with special areas designated for wheel-chairs to facilitate access for handicapped travellers, more room for families with changing facilities for small children, bicycle facilities for tourists and more comfortable surroundings in first class. Moving with the times, TGVs have designated quiet and telephone areas, offer DVD services on-board, have plug-in areas for mobile phones and computers. Each train has on-board bars and automatic distributors. In the stations, access to Wi-fi keeps the business community connected and the speed of the journey leaves time to work or play on board.   
                   
                                                                           
Rolling stock evolved from single decks to double-deckers thereby increasing the number of seats available, from 386 to, on average, 516 seats per train. With ever increasing traffic on motorways, and higher petrol prices, more and more people are switching to the train for its ease and convenience.

New TGV upgrades and projects

With all these improvements, London is now a mere 2h35 from Paris by Eurostar, Bruxelles 1h20 and Marseille 3h from Paris. Progess continues and a host of new services will be launched in the coming years:

• Eurostar: Final works on the link between the Channel Tunnel and London will reduce time on the
journey between London to Brussels to less than 2h and between London and Paris to just under 2h20, making Eurostar the FASTEST inter-city connection. Market share is due to leap to 80% from its current 71%.
• Thalys: the fast track link will operate between Brussels and Amsterdam which will put Paris to Rotterdam down to 2h45 (a time saving of 30 minutes on the current service) and Paris to Amsterdam to 3h15 (a 55 minute saving on the current service).
Travellers to Cologne will make a time saving of 50 minutes when the high-speed  track opens on the     Brussels to Cologne leg putting Cologne a mere 3h from Paris
• West of France: a new project will put Brittany within 3h of Paris. Currently Rennes is 1h30 by the fast train service and Nantes is 1h50. By 2012, Connéré-Sablé-Laval will be connected to the fast train services.
• TGV Est EUROPEEN: This line will open in 2007 and will link Paris to the east of France (the vineyards of Alsace, the wonderful cathedral in Strasbourg, Nancy’s art deco buildings to mention but a few places of interest). The continuation of the service into Germany will open up new travel possibilities for another 37 million people and facilitate connections into Germany’s existing fast train services, linking the country from north to south.
• France-Spain: Perpignan-Figueras line – the first section of this new high-speed service will open in 2009/2010 and link Perpignan-Le Perthus, shortening considerably the journey between Paris and Barcelona to 5h16. Montpellier – Barcelona will take only 2h10.
• Atlantic coast: Work will shortly commence on the high speed train connections between Tours and Bordeaux, an important axe on the Atlantic coast linking Paris-Tours-Poitiers to Bordeaux and extending southwards to Toulouse, which in turn connects into the Spanish links to Barcelona and Madrid. The north-south linkage will open up and bring French and European cities closer together.

All in all, excellent news for European travellers. For more information, please contact your agent.

European Rail Trafic Management System

You may remember wakening up on a night train to total silence. The train had stopped. Just as the engines and their familiar throb recommenced and you drifted back to sleep, you wouldn’t have known it but the train had just changed navigational, speed and signalling systems. Such were the changes required years ago when trains moved from one national railway to another.

This situation whereby trains slowed down on crossing borders was due to the historical development of railways primarily within national boundaries and the need for improvements in signaling and train management was felt in the 1980’s with the development of international train services. At the beginning of the 1990s, the first premises of ERTMS evolved from the decision by the European Transport ministers to examine the signaling and train control systems with a view to harmonising data exchange to improve speed and convenience for passenger and freight trains. The overall objective of the system is two-fold:

• Ensure the safe operation of trains in the network
• Optimise capacity on the network by managing issues relating to traffic and infrastructure

One of the major advantages of ERTMS will be that instead of multiple signaling systems there will be one system for the overall European network. However, the task involves time and investment in infrastructure and systems. It also requires an interim phase as existing systems developed by each of the 15 national railways and their suppliers are phased out and replaced by ETCS (European Train Control System).

Nowadays, when a business traveller is going to Brussels from Paris on Thalys, the journey is seamless and there are no stops or signs that an international border has been crossed. Nevertheless, what the traveller doesn’t realise is that when the service was launched several years ago, there were 7 navigational systems on board. These navigational systems are being replaced by ERTMS. It is composed of two systems GSM-R - which uses rail radio frequency, and ETCS – where an on-board computer transmits and receives information from the rails to manage speed and traffic control. The latter, ETCS, transmits speed information into the train cabin where the driver is informed by computer and / or radio control of speed the train is travelling at, authorised speed and the computer automatically slows the train to comply with national speeds.

To date, over 6,000 km of rail have been equipped with a number of projects being tested, which include the Madrid-Lérida line in Spain, Rome-Naples in Italy, the West Coast Main Line in the UK, Switzerland, Berlin-Halle-Leipzig. 

Tilting trains

Countries looking to develop their high speed rail strategies have several potential solutions, including introducing tilting trains, which offer more speed using existing lines or building new speed lines for dedicated high speed train services. Obviously, cost is oftentimes a major concern, but nowadays, saturation on existing lines is also a factor. Tilting trains have been mooted as a fast and less expensive option to high speed services, simply because of the cost involved in building new lines.

In many countries, existing rail lines date from the 19th century and were built to cater for speeds up to 80km trains per hour, fast at the time, but nothing compared to the 300km of some high speed trains today,
notably in France. Tilting trains take the existing lines into consideration in their design and therefore are designed to “tilt” in sharp bends, so that passengers on board can enjoy speed without being thrown against the sides of the train in sharp bends. They can run at speeds up to 230 km/h. For the amateur, the difference between tilting trains and high speed or regular trains is the centrifugal force on tilting trains means that they tilt on corners.

Several countries have opted for the tilting trains and they include Amtrack, in the US with Acela Express, the ICE-T trains in Germany, the Pendolino in Italy, the Talgo in Spain, the X2000 in Sweden, the Intercity trains in Switzerland and the Cisalpino between Switzerland and Italy. Time savings are quite high compared with regular train services and travellers to Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Italy and Spain, as well as some of the Eastern European countries, will enjoy their continental holiday without perhaps knowing that they are travelling on a tilting train.                     
                               

However, some countries are now facing saturation on their existing lines and tilting trains, whilst they go faster than regular trains, have to contend with existing trains on the lines – freight trains, regular trains, night trains – and use the lines accordingly.

The alternative approach means investing in separate high speed lines and high speed trains. Due to saturation, this strategy, whilst involving initial heavy financial commitment and time to building new lines, does mean that there are dedicated high speed lines which are separate from the regular trains, including slower freight or night trains. Therefore, high speed trains can run long distances making fewer stops and maintaining high speeds over longer distances.

French Railways made the high speed choice over twenty years ago and over the years has built up its high speed network, so that Lyons is 2 hours from Paris and Marseilles a mere 3 hours. Had the French Railways opted for the tilting trains, time savings on a 4 hour Lyons-Paris trip would only have been shortened by about 10 minutes.

Rail services in Portugal

Sandeman Port, “Portugal, the country where black is colour”...everyone has seen the splendid images promoting this beautiful country, on the furthermost western seaboard in Europe.

Comboios de Portugal, the Portuguese Railways, run a network which links throughout the country with fast, inter-city and regional train services, suitable for tourism and business travelling.

• Alfa Pendular trains link the country from north to south, from Braga and Oporto in the northern wineyards, through to Lisbon, the capital, and down to Faro, the holiday destination. Alfa pendular has a “conforto” class for travellers who wish to work or relax on their journey, with the usual sockets for lap-tops and mobile phones. On-board meals are served as well as a selection of newspapers to peruse as one enjoys the food and view. Access for disabled travellers is facilitated by a specially designated area for them, access lifts for wheel-chairs and toilets designed to take wheel-chairs.

• Intercidades (Inter-city trains) have a wide range of time-tables and destinations, ideal for leisure travelling or for business. The on-board services include buffet bar and aircon – most appreciated during the high summer temperatures in Portugal.

• Regional trains provide a modern and efficient means of transport between Portugal’s towns and cities.

• TGV international connections can be made to France using the Sud-Expresso with departures every day from Lisbon, arriving in Hendaye in France the following day and connecting with the French TGV-Atlantique directly to Paris. Services on the Sud-Expresso include reclining seats and sleepers ranging from individual compartments to doubles, triples and six people sharing a compartment. There is also a restaurant car with snacks, breakfast and dinner. Breakfast is included in the price of single, double and triple compartments.

• Lusitania Comboio Hotel is the night service which connects Lisbon directly to Madrid.

• Journey times:

 Lisbon to Faro  1h40
 Lisbon to Oporto 4h15
 Lisbon to Madrid 9h20

Europe’s high speed network: concepts and plans

Europe’s high speed network continues its tentacular spread. Initially instigated by the French and German railways, over twenty years ago, Spain, Italy and the UK are catching up and making up for lost years with a growing network. It is interesting to see how each country has developed its concept of high speed, in terms of infrastructure, rolling stock and service areas. The 5th Eurailspeed Congress, recently held in Milan, provided an excellent opportunity to review the high speed services in operation and preview developments for the coming years.

In Germany, the focus is on connectivity. ICE services stop between major towns and cities within 150 km of each other on a given route. As a result, speeds rarely surpass 300km and only for a short time. Reservations are not obligatory on these services.

The French concept of high speed is to compete directly with the airlines. With direct services between Paris-Marseille (800 km apart) travelling at speeds of over 300kms, the three hour journey has eaten into airline market share.

The Spanish Railways, Renfe, opted for the latest ICE design for the Madrid-Barcelona a high speed service with a focus on passenger comfort.

The Netherlands announced, however, that the high speed line from Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp will not commence service in 2007 but in 2008.

The year 2007 will see many new projects enter into commercial service, Eurostar’s new terminal at St. Pancras, the TGV East will bring Strasbourg and Nancy much closer to Paris and stretch through to Germany...we shall keep you informed on a regular basis on progress on these projects.

The UIC (International Union for Railways) has participated actively in moving forward the trans-national developments for the European railways. As part of the move to integrate these services across Europe, signaling and power are being adapted and standardised to ensure smooth passage from one country’s system to another. On the ticketing side, Eurostar and Thalys plan to issue joint tickets in 2006. This alliance will benefit travellers to the World Cup matches in Germany. We will keep you informed in future issues of the Press Release.

Lastly, financing new lines and material is also on the UIC agenda, with Western European railways show-casing choices made to enable their Eastern European counterparts prepare for the extension of lines into their regions.

The future for travellers using high speed services in Europe is due to improve even more.

In-station services

• Swiss Railways

Travellers will no longer be wondering where to find that special gift or track down the DVD they hadn’t time to buy before leaving home as they wait for their train. Swiss Railways have developped an in-station service concept branded “RailCity”, to facilitate their customers. RailCity is located in the seven major Swiss train stations – Basle, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, Wintertour and Zurich - and offers shopping facilities and services with flexible opening hours when the other shops are closed (on Sunday for example). Both travellers and people in the vicinity can now avail of shopping and services in a very central and safe environment.

Services and stores vary from station to station, however, core services includes banking, gifts, up-to-the minute fashion, shoes, florists, bakeries, bars and restaurants, food halls, books, music and DVD stores, car-rental, pharmacy, medical cabinets, hair-dressers and tourist office.

• French Railways

Travellers to France will notice major changes in big train stations, as 30 stations have already undergone refurbishing and renovations to broaden the scope of services provided for travellers. This programme started in 2003 is spreading to more than 165 train stations in 2005 and means that there will be an increasing number of services and shopping available. French Railways have embarked on an ambitious programme to ensure their train stations, designed differently throughout the country, are ambassadors for the towns and regions they transport travellers to. Each station, whilst different, will adhere to a standard 45 service charter. The first Parisian station to qualify was Montparnasse which sees on average 175,000 passengers daily – over 400,000 during peak departure periods – and over 25,000 people pass through the station on their way to and from work, to shop, run errands and carry out their business.  Another example is Paris-St. Lazare a transport hub with rail, suburban and underground services converging with over 450,000 people passing through on a daily basis. Underground parking, lifts, escalators, new entrance areas and a new shopping area are all part of the major renovation programme. Marseille train station is undergoing major refurbishments to create a major transport and services hub on the Mediterranean coast.
Culture, shopping and daily life, all converge in these new areas being developped in major train stations. Business centres are being opened in big international train stations with wifi connections available for ever-business executives.
The new TGV Est which will be operational from 2007 onwards is bringing a wave of change; stations are being renovated, including Paris-East (Gare de l’Est) and three new stations will be built to generate major hubs for linking cross-country and international services.

France: Christian Lacroix designs new high-speed train interiors

Internationally renowned French designer Christian Lacroix was chosen by the French Railways to renovate their high speed trains. The first coach was presented in Paris by the president of the French Railways in September 2005. It is the first time ever that the French Railways called upon the services of a top-end fashion designer to “dress” its trains. In the next 5 years, the high speed trains on the Atlantic route and the new route to Eastern France will all be re-designed according to Mr Lacroix’s specifications.

Christian Lacroix’s flamboyant colour palette has been extended from fashion to interior design. In second class carriages, for family and leisure, Christian Lacroix focused on vivid colours such as red and purple velvet. Meanwhile, in first class, more frequently associated with business travellers, he chose a dominant grey colour with apple green seats scattered throughout the carriage.

In second class, leg room has been improved and there are fewer seats per carriage. Rubbish bins are bigger, the baggage area is larger and more accessible in each carriage and there are more electrical outlets for lap-tops or mobile phone recharging. Wifi services will be available in first class.

Christian Lacroix choose a “swirling” grey carpet on the carriage floors as an evocation of the final destination of many of the trains towards the Atlantic ocean, reflecting the heaving sea-waters and its ever-changing colours.

The collaboration between the French railways and Christian Lacroix, which started in 2000 when he designed a TGV Mediterranée train, is due to continue as he has been asked to design staff uniforms for 2007. Air France’s staff are currently wearing uniforms designed by Christian Lacroix.

More pictures on New TGV interiors

The USA by train

On August 1st, Rail Europe 4A introduced new products for customers travelling to North America. To provide you with more information and insights into this new opportunity, Rail Europe recently interviewed Craig White, International Sales Manager, Amtrak.

Q: Why should travellers to the US take the train instead of others mean of transportation (car, bus, planes)?
There are five reasons we feel the train can be a better means of transportation in the United States. 
1. Flexible – Travel by train allows you to go when you want and to stop when you want.  Especially when using the USA Rail Pass, the traveler has the ability to travel for 5, 15 or 30 days with unlimited stopovers.  This means for a set price you can travel to as many places as you would like and spend time in the locations you want to learn more about. 
2. Affordable – By picking the length of the pass you determine what your cost will be for traveling during that time period.  There is no limit to the number of days you travel within the 5, 15 or 30 days.
3. Convenient – Amtrak travels to over 500 cities and towns in the U.S.  In most cases the train station is located in the city center so there is no waiting to see the highlights.
4. Adaptable – Rail Europe representatives can customize a full holiday for the traveler than includes hotels, sightseeing and more.
5. Relaxing – While traveling on Amtrak the passenger can lean back and take it easy in large reclining seats or get up and walk around.  Our long distance trains have dining cars and our trains on the east and west coast have café cars where beer, soft drinks and sandwiches are available.   With the train there is no rushing to the airport, no reading a map while driving and more of the real America can be seen. 

Q: Why do you recommend to passengers buy a pass or ticket from Rail Europe before their departure for the US?
The majority of Amtrak trains require reservations.  While there is a large selection of trains to choose from on the east and west coast, when traveling on the long distance trains there is only one train a day and in some cases every other day.  People in the U.S. are rediscovering train travel and many of the trains sell out well in advance. This is particularly true if someone is interested in sleeping accommodation.  If passenger were to wait until they arrive to try to make their reservation they may not be able to travel when they would like to.

Q: What are the differences between an Acela train and a classic one?
The Acela Express operates between Boston, New York and Washington.  Considered our high speed train, it reaches speeds up to 150 mph.(241 kph)  This train has limited number of stops between the major cities and is looked upon as the businessman’s train.  There is lots of leg room, adjustable reading lights, large tray tables and conference tables with seating up to four.
Our Regional service offers reclining seats, table trays and overhead reading lights and there is plenty of room for baggage in overhead racks.  This train travels a bit slower than the Acela and makes a few more stops.

Q: Not a year goes by in Europe without a high-speed line inauguration or improvement. Are there any short or medium-term projects for Amtrak ?
Amtrak is continuously working on improving our service along the northeast corridor.  We have been installing new concrete ties to bring a smoother ride and we are improving the electrical wires to enable trains to increase speed.  One of the most recent improvements we have undertaken is the complete refurbishment of the sleeper cars in 5 trainsets on the Empire Builder.  This train runs from Chicago to Seattle/Portland and this month we have begun our new service featuring upgraded onboard service, wine and cheese tasting for our first class passengers and special new menu items have been developed to reflect the region the train is traveling through.  In addition we have National Park staff on board to talk about the culture, geography and history of the route.  We will be looking to duplicate this upgraded service on other Amtrak trains in the future.

The Amtrak Railpasses:
Four passes are available for coach class (2nd class) –

• West Railpass
• East Railpass
• Northeast Railpass
• National Passes

NB: Euronet enables you to issue a voucher, which is invalid for travel. The voucher must be exchanged at any Amtrak counter for a railpass.

• Peak and off-peak passes are available (peak periods are from May 28 to September 6 and from December 16 to January 2, 2006)
• Unlimited stopovers are allowed on each pass, they are valid for 5, 15 or 30 days

Amtrak high-speed tickets:

• ACELA- high-speed train service running between Boston and Washington, with stops in New York City and Philadelphia, offering fast and modern service for business and leisure travellers.

Amtrak regional tickets:

• Point-to-point vouchers are available on the eastern routes, between New Yorkn, Boston, Philadephia, Balimore, Washington, Niagara Falls and Montreal.

More information is available through your agent.

Austria by train

As part of our series on holiday destinations, Austria is on several tourists’ hit-lists, be it for its wonderful summer musical programmes, art, architectural and sporting interests. The latter range from ski-slopes to the Danube and beautiful lakes which abound in this country. Vienna, Salzburg, Graz are just some of the mythic cities and towns where music seems to be the leitmotiv. 

Getting to Austria is made easy by a very modern train network. For travellers already in Europe, international trains connect to and from nearby countries, including Basel, Budapest, Munich, Prague and Venice. Once inside Austria, the national railways, run by ÖBB (Österreichischen Bundesbahnen) offer a modern and frequent service between towns and cities across the country. The ÖBB’s network covers 5,683 km. Several private operators run smaller lines.

For first-time visitors, with limited time, a must-visit circuit should include Vienna, Salzburg, Graz and Innsbruck, not necessarily in that order. Vienna, with its Roman and Habsburg architecture is a treat. A visit to the gothic cathedral, the Schrönbrunn castle, Vienna’s State Opera House should delight any visitor, followed by a stop at one of the infamous Viennese coffeehouses. Temptations to shop will be gratified with a trip to most trendy shopping mile is the Mariahilfer Strasse which is located between the centre of the city and Westbahnhof. 

Travelling from Vienna to Salzburg by train takes just under 3 hours. Located in the mountains, Salzburg’s origins go back to the 7th century when founded by the Benedictines. It is synonymous with Mozart and the Salzburg International Festival (late July-August) celebrates this world-renowned musician. Salzburg too has its share of palaces and gardens, narrow streets and colourful houses.

Salzburg to Graz takes approximately 4 hours by train through beautiful scenery. Vienna-Graz is 2 and a half hours by train. This city surrounded by rolling hills is dominated by the imposing Schloss Eggenberg. Other landmark sites to visit include the city hall and opera house for the second most important city in Austria. Graz offers a wide range of cultural events, like the Styriade, an annual exhibition, dedicated to contemporary art, theatre and performances. 

Lastly, Innsbruck is a breath-taking city to visit. In the heart of the mountains, surrounded by 25 villages, Innsbruck invites its visitors to savour fresh air, wonderful walks, hikes, mountain-bike trails, games, sports and swimming. Connecting trains to/from Vienna to Innsbruck take 5h, Salzburg to Innsbruck takes 2h and Graz to Innsbruck takes 5h.

There are several types of train services running in Austria:

• ÖBB EC (InterCity Express) - ÖBB quality trains with special services, 1st class business compartments, upgraded mobile phone reception. These express trains connect domestic destinations and major cities in nearby countries.
• Night trains.
• Regional and short-distance trains.

The Austrian Railpass 2005 offers:

• Unlimited travel on the national rail network of Austria in 1st or 2nd class
• 50% discount for the second adult
• The basic pass includes any 3 days within a 15-day period
• Special fares on the Danube river trips with DDSG Blue Danube.

Other Railpass 2005 offers include :

• European East Pass 2005
• Austria’n Czech Railpass 2005
• Switzerland’n Austria Pass 2005

More information is available through your agent.

Germany by train

Shortly after the Winter Olympics in Italy, the sporting focus will move to Germany for the World Cup. This is yet another sporting event which will attract football fans and supporters from all over the world. At this stage, it is worthwhile providing readers with information on the event which will see thousands of fans moving between the different 12 cities where the matches are due to be held. These include Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Gelsenkirchen, Hanover, Stuggart, Frankfurt, to name but a few.

For travellers planning their routes in advance, Germany has a reputation for having one of the world’s best railway services, at affordable prices, comfortable and punctual. Rail Europe’s German Railpass is the ideal means of moving between cities, efficiently and smoothly. This offers access to the entire German network, including the fast ICE trains. The German Railpass also offers an advantage in cities where accommodation is difficult to find and enables travellers to reserve accommodation in a nearby city e.g. a football match in Cologne and accommodation in Bonn - it is a 20 minute train journey.

Some journey times:

Destination   Journey Time   
    
• Berlin-Hamburg  1h30   
• Nuremberg-Cologne  3h30   
• Hanover-Berlin  1h32   
• Frankfurt-Munich  3h38   
• Dortmund-Stuttgart  3h30
• Leipzig – Dresden  1h08   

There are several types of train services running in Germany:

ICE (InterCity Express) – the high-speed train service which runs between the major cities in Germany.
Travel time between Munich – Hamburg is 5h30 compared with 8h previously.

IC/EC (InterCity/EuroCity) – Express trains which connect domestic destinations and major cities in nearby countries.

CIS - a service similar to the ICE but which runs on conventional tracks.

Thalys – the high-speed train which connects Cologne, Dusseldorf, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.

Regional trains run very efficient services, some direct, others linking medium and large-sized towns to major cities.
On-board services vary with the type of train service. The ICE and IC/EC trains are top of the range in terms of comfort and on-board services. They have bars, lounges, bistros and restaurants, serving German and international foods, beers and wines. They also have phones/faxes, conference rooms on board and first class.

The German Railpass 2005 offers:

• Unlimited travel on the national rail networks in Germany in 1st or 2nd class

• 50% discount for the second adult

• 4 day pass in a one month period

• Special fares on the Berlin-Warsaw Express, ICE, CityNightLine and Paris-Germany Night Train. Free travel on steamers operated by KD German Rhine Line between Cologne-Mainz and between Koblenz – Cochem. Lastly, there is a 60% reduction on the Europbus lines 189 & 190.

Discover the UK trains

In the 1990s British Rail, the UK national railways company was privatised and franchises awarded to private companies and conglomerates to run the UK passenger train services. The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) is responsible for the overall coordination of the passenger train services. Network Rail was created to oversee the infrastructure in England, Scotland and Wales, which includes tracks, signalling and stations, thereby replacing Railtrack, the previous state-owned enterprise.

Nowadays, UK passenger trains are run by several private operators (many of whom have multiple franchises to run different services), the largest being the Virgin Trains, Arriva, Greater North Eastern Railway (GNER), National Express Group, First Group, …with a plethora of services which include the Gatwick Express, the Heathrow Express, Midland Mainline, Northern Rail.

Virgin Trains run express train services on the West Coast Main Line, from London Euston to the West Midlands, the North West and Scotland. The other Virgin Trains franchise is known as the Virgin Cross Country and runs long distance services which by-pass London and link the south and south-west of England with the north of England and Scotland via Birmingham.
Destination   Journey Time   
• London-Manchester 2h10   
• London Edimbugh  4h20   

Great North Eastern Railway runs high speed train services on the East Coast Main Line, with services running from London (Kings Cross station) right up to Inverness and Aberdeen in Scotland.

Arriva runs train and bus services throughout Wales and the Borders area, and the North Wales routes.
Destination   Journey Time   
• Cardiff-Manchester  3h30   

First ScotRail operates overnight sleeper trains between London Euston and Scotland as well as day-time services.
Destination   Journey Time   
• Edinburgh-Glasgow  0h51   

RailEurope offers several passes for the UK:

• BritRail England Consecutive & Flexi Pass 2005 – valid for travel on the English railway network, on the London Airport Link services (Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express & Stansted Sky Train). This pass also offers special fares on Eurostar.

• BritRail Classic & Flexi Pass 2005 – valid for travel on the railway network of England, Scotland and Wales, on the London Airport Link Services (Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express & Stansted Sky Train). This pass also offers special fares on Eurostar.

• BritRail Scottish Freedom Pass 2005 – valid for travel on the rail network in Scotland, on some Citylink bus routes (Kyle of Lochalsh to Uig, Inverness to Ullapool, Oban to Campbelltown, Wick, Wick to Thurso and Oban, Fort William to Inverness) and offers discounts on island services

• BritRail Pass + Ireland 2005 – valid for travel on the railway network of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) plus Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (Eire), on the London Airport Link services – Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express & Stansted Sky train, on Stena Line ferry services (Stranraer-Belfast, Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire, Fishguard-Rosslare), on Irish Ferries (Holyhead-Dublin). This pass also offers special fares on Eurostar.

Discover Poland by train

Poland is becoming quite a popular holiday destination, offering a fascinating mixture of old and new, from medieval castles, festivals and modern art galleries. Travellers may well wish to indulge in a variety of outdoor sports, cultural activities or simply relax in the many towns and cities which make up this intriguing country. Poland joined the European Union in May 2004, as part of the enlargement process. Throughout the 1990s the Poles embraced reform and restructuring of their country and are among the most progressive of newcomers to the EU.

Touring Poland is easy, reliable and comfortable by train. Inter-City and Euro-City trains link into European networks and when used with local trains, the traveller has a hassle-free journey into most large towns and cities. International connections from neighbouring capital cities such as Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Hanover, Prague and Vienna offer both day and over-night services which are fast and relatively inexpensive. 

Once within the country, connections between major cities and large towns are easy. Visitors to Poland, should try to see some of the main cities – Warsaw, the capital, Krakow, to the south and Zakopane in the mountains, Poznan in the east and Gdansk on the Baltic coast.

A day in Warsaw could include visits to some of the most important sights of the capital city: Old Town with its Castle Square, King Sigismund’s Column, St. John’s Cathedral, the Old Town Square and the Barbican as well as historical sights like the Ghetto Memorial, the Monument of the Warsaw Uprising, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Grand Theatre, Chopin’s Monument and the Belvedere Palace.

A 2h35 train journey will take the visitor to Krakow, the ancient Polish capital, known as the Florence of the north. Here, visitors can go through the Jewish district of Kazimierz, visit Wawel Castle and Wawel Cathedral which was the seat of royal power up till the 17 c. St. Mary's Church with its famous medieval altar by Wit Stwosz and where, every hour, the brave trumpeter of Kracow still plays the city's melody - the legendary warning call from historic Tatar attack on the city – is worth visiting.

Heading south to the mountains, it takes 2h45 by train from Krakow to reach Zakopane, known as the winter sports capital of Poland. The tour could commence with a ride up a funicular railway to the top of Mt. Gubalowka where there is a wonderful view of the Tatras. In Zakopane, visitors can stroll through Krupowki, the main street, lined with restaurants, cafes, boutiques and souvenir shops, finishing up with a visit to Tatra Museum.

The city of Gdansk which dates back over 1000 years, has an abundant history, and is located right on the coast of the Baltic Sea. It is only a 4h train journey from Warsaw to reach this maritime capital.

The eastern town of Poznan, which is 2h58 by train from Warsaw, offers visitors the largest number of historic monuments in all of Poland. To name but a few of the 450 monuments, visitors should see Ostrow Tumski - most probably the cradle of the Polish nation, the Town Hall in Market Square, as well as Gorkow Palace, the Royal Palace.

There are four types of trains in Poland:
• Pociag Inter-City/Euro-City – top-quality express trains, offering high speeds, few stops, air-conditioned cars, with full-service restaurant or buffet car.
• Pociag expresowy – express trains, which run between major cities, stopping only at major towns. Frequently, these trains offer buffet car service with reservations mandatory.
• Pociag pospieszny – fast trains, which ensure an efficient way to travel around a region. These trains stop at most moderate-sized stations, but do not stop at every station. Most of these trains offer first class cars.
o Pociag osobowy – local trains, which usually stop at every town on the line. These trains offer second class cars only and offer the colourful and scenic way to visit the country.

   

For visitors who plan to do a lot of rail travel in Poland, purchasing a Rail Pass is recommended. Rail Europe‘s European East Pass offers unlimited travel on the national rail networks of Poland and other east European countries, in 1st and 2nd class, varying from the 5 day to a one month pass.

Internet access in train stations and on-board trains

In the current climate of business 24/7, more and more travellers are using their laptops and cell phones during their train journeys. Connection services are constantly being upgraded across European rail networks to ensure that travellers can use their laptops and cell phones. As a result, travellers, whether for business or pleasure, can now use their journey time to check their emails, look up internet sites when travelling on the European network.

The majority of train stations are now equipped with wi-fi hotspots to facilitate access to internet and this technology is now spreading to trains.

Eurostar travellers can now enjoy wi-fi access in the departure lounges in Paris, London and Ashford terminals. It will shortly be launched in Brussels Midi terminal and plans are afoot to test the service on-board Eurostar trains later this year. As part of its refurbishment plans, Eurostar trains will also provide more power sockets for laptops and cell phones. Thalys travellers can avail of the wi-fi services in Paris, Gare du Nord and also Brussels Midi train stations.

Belgium: Travellers can access their emails or internet sites via recently installed “hotspots” in 9 Belgian train stations. A further 29 train stations will be equipped with technology “hotspots” by the end of this year.
Denmark: Internet connections will be available on the Copenhagen-Ärhus line, in first class carriages for passengers in 2006. The service will be extended to all travellers at a later date.
France: Wi-fi services are available in 50 main French train stations. Cell phones can be used in carriages designated for use so as not to disturb passengers who wish to relax or sleep during their journey.
Spain: High-speed services between Madrid-Lerida now have coverage for cell phones with the exception of the tunnels.
Sweden: All X2000 trains are now equipped to facilitate internet connections on-board trains. New double-decker trains X40 due to come into service will also offer internet connections.
In total, 178 Swedish train stations offer connections for hotspots and wi-fi. Stockholm train station also has WLAN connections.
Switzerland: By September 2005, travellers in Switzerland can surf on the Internet using wi-fi access in most train stations and on some trains. Initially, major stations such as Geneva, Lausanne, Bern, Basel will have wi-fi access and 26 stations will be added before the end of the year.

“Rail 2000” in Switzerland

Travelling by train in Switzerland is now faster, simpler and more comfortable. As of 12 December 2004 long-distance trains depart for a wide variety of destinations every 30 minutes, better connections are available at major train stations and journey times are shorter. This is the first big milestone of a project known as “Rail 2000”.

Under the “Rail 2000” project, which was agreed by the Swiss population and the government back in 1987, railway services were destined to undergo radical modernisation over a 20 year period. The project includes infrastructure works, with the building of two new tunnels at the Gotthard and Loetschberg, as well as a connection to the European high-speed network. The project also has plans to reduce noise on the truck-line network and two phases of the “Rail 2000” concept. A new 45 kilometre line has been built between Bern, the capital, and Olten. As a result of this new line, trains can travel between 160 and 200km/h gaining 15 minutes travel time.

Modern trains have been added to the fleet and double-decker trains are now used on lines with heavy demand, with seating capacity for up to 1,400 people. On the winding network routes in Switzerland, tilting trains are now used and journey times are shorter compared with traditional trains.

For tourists visiting the country, the impact of these innovations and changes means shorter journeys and more choice when travelling in Switzerland. The new timetable for both trains and buses offers departures every hour, half hour, 15 or 45 minutes.

In addition, Switzerland offers access to high-speed train services operated by neighbouring countries. French TGV trains come into Geneva, Lausanne, Bern and Zurich several times a day. German ICE trains run via Basel and Bern to Interlaken. The Zurich-Stuttgart, Zurich-Milan, Basel-Bern-Milan and Geneva-Brig-Milan are all served by tilting trains.

Travellers have several options when using the Swiss Travel System. A popular option is the Swiss Pass which allows unlimited travel on the railway network, steam-boat and local bus routes. Valid for 4, 8, 15, 22 days or 1 full month, it offers many discounts on mountain top excursions and other services. For short trips, the Swiss Transfer Ticket is an ideal option, offering one round trip to anywhere in Switzerland, from any Swiss airport or border entry point.

For further, please look at the following internet sites:
Rail 2000   www.railway2000.ch
Swiss Travel System: www.sbb.ch/sts
Rail Europe:  www.raileurope.fr