Rail Europe

Discover the Mont Saint Michel, « Wonder of the western world », with Rail Europe

Rail Europe and SNCF (French National Railways) celebrate their way the 13th centenary anniversary of the Mont Saint Michel by offering easier booking and shorter journeys to this outstanding monument classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. The trip to the
Mont Saint Michel consists in a TGV trip between Paris and Rennes and a bus section between Rennes and the Mont Saint Michel. When booking with Rail Europe, travellers arrive at the feet of this impressive landmark after a fast, comfortable and scenic trip. And as of July, 5th, the journey time is reduced to 3h30 from Paris!

During its long history, the Mont Saint Michel has been renowned both for its spiritual and religious significance as well as its historical and architectural interest. With more than 3 million visitors each year, the Mont Saint Michel is one of the 3 most visited places in France. The abbey and its surroundings will be alive with cultural events to celebrate its foundation, including exhibitions, concerts and pilgrimages throughout 2008 and 2009. So don’t miss this commemoration while in Europe and jump at the chance of the Paris – Mont Saint Michel connection.

Be sure to get your ticket during this busy period by booking it now through the wide Rail Europe network. List of Rail Europe’s travel agents in your country is 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.”

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.

Barcelona - ELIPSOS

The Spanish Railways have been operating a useful service since this summer that links Trenhotel Elipsos departures / arrivals at Barcelona-França station with Barcelona-Sants Station.
Trains leave every 30 minutes from each station and services are free for travellers with ELIPSOS tickets.

RAILTEAM is now on tracks!

A major step forward has been achieved with the agreement in Berlin, on June 14th, between the major European railways – German, Austrian, Belgian, Dutch, Swiss and French. This alliance between the main high-speed services operating in Europe (Thalys, ICE, Eurostar, Lyria, TGV...) will offer travellers top quality service on Europe’s high-speed network. RAILTEAM is similar in concept to alliances set up by the major airlines.

Types of services which will be offered by mid-2007 include:

• Facilitating tickets, rates and platform changes at “hubs” such as Brussels, Frankfurt or Charles de Gaulle airport
• Harmonising rates, on-board services, in-station services to increase awareness of high-speed services
• Access to top notch services – waiting rooms, internet access
• Combining passenger loyalty schemes and determining passenger rights
• Combining marketing and communication activities to encourage usages of high-speed services in Europe

The alliance will be headed up by a top level committee with 4 working groups to implement plans. Guillaume Pepy, CEO of the French Railways, commenting on this new alliance said “Our ambition is to bring high-speed Europe to customers. By combining German and French services, we have a large network and top level quality service on offer. We aim to be the rail alternative for customers looking for an alternative to the airline offer.”

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

New bonuses for the France Railpass

The France Railpass, already a great way to discover France as it provides unlimited travel on the French rail network from only 136 € *, also entitles the passholder to bonuses with various partners which from now even include:
- a 50% discount on the Standard Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens (www.bateauxparisiens.fr)
- a 20% discount on the Lunch Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
- a 20% discount on the Batobus (www.batobus.com)
- a 20% discount on the visit of Roland Garros and its backstage (except during competition) www.rolandgarros.com
- a 12% discount at the Lido (2nd show) www.lido.com
- a 10% discount at  Citadines apart’hotels in France (www.citadines.com)

Find the list of the bonuses associated to the France Railpass and more about the product on a previous post on our blog (http://raileurope.typepad.com) or consult your Rail Europe agent: www.raileurope.fr/wheretobuy

*Price for 3 days in 1 month in 2nd class, in saver formula (from 2 to 5 people travelling together)

Montparnasse: Test laboratory for disabled travellers

On May 18th, the President of France, Mr Jacques Chirac and the President of the SNCF (the French Railways) Mr Louis Gallois launched a new programme at the Montparnasse train station, entitled “Test Laboratory for Access”.

For the first time in France, disabled passengers will be able to test live and to give their opinion on the different access solutions being developed to facilitate access to the train station and to the trains. The test period will last from May through to July of this year. Each month, agents in the station assist over 2,500 disabled travellers. Trains arriving and departing from Montparnasse station, link Paris with Britanny, La Rochelle, Bordeaux and other major cities in the south-west of France.

The definition of handicap includes physical, hearing or visual impairment, intellectual, psychological disabilities as well as those due to disabling disease. Other passengers may be temporarily unable to move or access train stations or services due to an accident (e.g. leg in plaster), or slow down in movement due to age or pregnancy. Travellers with any of these forms of handicap, may need assistance within the train station, on the platforms, in the waiting areas or gaining access to trains.

To date, several solutions have been designed and put in place on the latest trains, including the TGV Mediterranée, so that people with a hearing disability can read train information and people in wheel chairs can open doors themselves. New sales booths have been installed at 0,95cm high to make sure people in wheel chairs can purchase or change tickets in comfort. Stairs and escalators have been specially marked in yellow paint and double rails have been put in place so that short people and children can hold onto the rail climbing or descending the stairs. New regional trains equipped with wheel chair ramps and seating reserved for wheel chairs came into service. Toilets can now also facilitate wheel chairs. Four logos, part of improved signage programme, indicate where disabled travellers can go for assistance.

A new service called “Access Plus” will be introduced to assist disabled passengers to prepare and plan trips. Using a dedicated telephone number, callers will be able to reach the service by phone, fax or email and a hot line will be in operation from 6am to the departure/arrival of the last train. Tests will be carried out on two lines, Tours to Paris and the TGV Mediterranée on the Avignon-Nice part of the line, as of September 2006. A “Door to door” service is being tested in the Tours region where the disabled passenger is helped by the French Railways from their home to their final destination, covering all modes of transport in the course of the journey.

Services to be tested include:
- Ground signage for travellers with limited or no visibility enables them to enter the station, follow the special lines to the sales booth, the waiting area, trains and the taxi station.
- Sound points can also be used to guide travellers at the major intersections in the big stations.
- A visual booth developed with France Telecom with a tactile screen has been installed in the the station, where the traveller can hear and see the agent, who can then help the person requiring assistance.
- Vocal services are also being studied which can be used on PDAs and via the Wireless network in the station.
- Other areas been tested include a secure means to ensure that disabled travellers can access trains from the platforms.

The SNCF, official partner of the Rugby World Cup 2007

The French Railways have signed a partnership with the Rugby World Cup Ltd, organisers of the world’s third most important sporting event which will take place in France in 2007. As part of the partnership, the SNCF will transport the teams and the technical support teams as well as rugby supporters travelling to the different matchs. On signing the partnership agreement, Mr Gallois, the President of the SNCF underlined the common values shared between the Rugby World Cup teams and the SNCF – all evolving in a changing world which requires a high level of commitment from its team players and an increasing professionalism for customers, the travelling public. He defined it as an excellent logistical challenge for the Group.

As a preview of the Rugby World Cup, fans will be interested to know journey times between the different cities in which matchs will be played:

Lyon - Paris: 2 hours
Toulouse - Montpellier:  2 hours
Montpellier - Lyon: 1 hour 50
Lyon - St. Etienne: 1 hour
Nantes - Paris: 2 hours

For more information on how to reserve your train tickets for the Rugby World Cup matchs, please contact your agent.

Elipsos: Spain, France, Italy with the train-hotel night service

Elipsos is the night-train service which runs between Barcelona and Paris, Barcelona and Zurich, Barcelona and Milan. In 2005, over 260,000 travellers used the night service to travel to and from their holiday destinations, with over 137,000 people travelling between Barcelona and Paris. Occupancy rates are very satisfactory (+80%) with primarily families and friends using the service – the joys of wakening up from a good night’s sleep in a choice of carriages ranging from Grand Class, Club Class, Tourist Class and Super Reclining Seats – and arriving in a foreign holiday destination.

Each train has a restaurant carriage open for dinner until 1am and re-opens for breakfast from 6am for travellers from the Grand Class and the Club Class…

Travellers with Spain, Spain-Portugal, France, France-Spain, France-Italy, France-Switzerland or Greece-Italy passes can use these services with a special pass holder fare. On all services arriving in Barcelona, travellers receive a book of discounted vouchers – Art Travel Pass, which offers a large range of discounts to some of Barcelona’s most well-known museums.

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.

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.

All-weather trains

Summer’s high temperatures, winds such as “tramontane” and “mistral”...winter fog, below zero temperatures, snow, hail, rain storms. Weather conditions can prove a challenge when preparing a trip. It is good to know that high-speed trains operate all year round, come rain, hail or sunshine. In some cases, trains may slow down to 220 km/hour. A heavy snow storm may mean trains slow down for security reasons to 160 km/hour. “Brush” trains clear the lines between 3am-4am before services commence. On a normal business day, there is a TGV every three minutes, which keeps the lines clear. However, in most weather conditions, trains depart and arrive as per usual.

High winds in the south of France (tramontane and mistral), if they hit 140 km/hour – a very rare occasion – may slow trains down and trains may switch from high-speed lines to use regular train lines, which offer more protection from lateral winds.

The only incredible but natural phenomena which halted trains in the north of France was in 2003, when salt was deposited on the Calais-Lille line following a violent sea storm. The salt brought everything to a halt and it took 3 cleaner trains to free up the lines.

Such occurrences are rare. Travellers can be sure that whether it rains, hails or snows, they will travel in comfort and style on board French Railways.

Saint-Malo now three hours from Paris

On December 8th, Saint-Malo inaugurated the first high speed service between the coastal Breton city and Paris, now only 2h56 apart. In Summer time, there will be three direct trains per day with two services in off-peak periods. Passengers will no longer have to change trains in Rennes, thereby simplifying their travel plans. Mont-Saint-Michel, the second most visited monument in France with more than 2 million visitors per year is more easily accessible. The TGV will stop at Dol-de-Bretagne, only 20 minutes by bus, which greatly facilitates access to this beautiful town for tourists and week-enders.

Residents and regional institutions have high hopes for the changes which a high speed service initiates. Saint-Malo is already a popular tourist destination with over 1.5 million visitors per year and the town is well-known for its sailing, thalasso-therapy, its fabulous sea-food, and its proximity to Jersey.

Businesses are also welcoming the new line as the town has been developing its bio-marine industry in cosmetics and technology. Traditionally, Saint-Malo has depended on tourism and the sea and can now hope to improve the local economy with the arrival of the TGV-Atlantique.

A new train station has been built replacing the old structure. The first section will be used for train-related services. An intermodal platform is planned for operation in 2006 and a new shopping mall is planned for Summer 2006. A hotel is also planned near the new train station.

Disabled travellers

Catering to the needs of disabled travellers is part of services provided by the railways. UK, French and Swiss railways offer in-station services to assist disabled travellers access the trains.

• Switzerland
 Call Center Handicap offers advice and assistance for disabled travellers with the possibility to arrange assistance in the stations to access trains for passengers in wheel-chairs or visually or mentally impaired. Advance notice (one hour, two hours, twenty-four hours) is required for some services.
 Tactile bands and braille signage mark out the security lines on escalators, platforms and on train carriages
 Cassettes and information in braille is provided by the Association for the Blind
 Televox also provides train timetables and platform information for several train stations
• France
 Porters wearing red jackets are free of charge for disabled passengers (disability card required)
 Each train has a special area for wheel-chairs
 Disabled services and routes are indicated with a special pictogram
 Wheel-chairs are available at the entrance of major train satations and ramps are also in place to help disabled passengers access trains.
• UK
 The National Rail Enquiries will indicate the train company responsible for stations to assist in arranging a journey
 A booklet “Rail Travel for Disabled Passengers” is available giving advice and information
 Toilets in train stations and on-board are accessible for wheel-chairs
 Staff can meet and accompany disabled passengers to their trains
 Guide dogs, hearing dogs, assistance dogs can be taken into station restaurants
 Wheel-chairs and powered wheel-chairs up to 67cm wide and 120cm long can be carried on all trains, pending space availability

In France, discussions with Associations for disabled travellers and the French Railways have commenced to ensure that the necessary changes are incorporated at the planning stages for new stations and trains. The next 10 years should see major improvements for disabled travellers. The SNCF has agreed to put a timetable on the work in progress, so that by 2015, wheel-chair users, visually impaired, mobility restricted travellers will be able to use the services throughout the country.

Throughout Europe, many of the stations were not at all built with wheel-chairs or guide dogs in mind. In designing new stations it is easier to build-in facilities for disabled travellers. Most importantly, however, the railways are working closely on training programmes for all their public-facing staff to ensure they are equipped to inform and assist disabled travellers and facilitate their journey.

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

Face-lift for the Parisian train station at Gare de l’Est

Gare de l’Est is to be renovated in preparation for the new TGV Est service which will commence in 2007. The new TGV Est service will attract a significant number of travellers (from 9,5 million today to 14 million in 2007). The front entrance area of the station will be renovated to facilitate access for pedetrians, taxis, buses and bicycles. Parking will also be stream-lined with access reduced to 30 minutes maximum for passenger drop-off. A whole new shopping experience will be developed with a commercial area designed for over 50 new boutiques. Lastly, a new hanging garden passage-way will be built to enable travellers to walk between the nearby Gare du Nord or vice versa.
Gare de l’Est is the last of the 6 Paris train stations to commence renovation works. Currently, Gare d’Austerlitz is being renovated for trains going to the south-west and Spain and work is still in progress at Gare St. Lazare (serving Normandy).
Both of the stations, Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon, have been completely refurbished to accommodate the increased TGV services to the north, the UK, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands and the south through to Switzerland Italy. Modernisation of the platforms and surrounding services has been completed at Gare Montparnasse.

New TEOZ service between Bordeaux and Nice

As of September 5th, a new cross-country Corail Teoz service will connect Bordeaux to Nice, with stops in Toulouse, Montpellier and Marseille. The journey time on direct trains will take approximately 8 hours. This brings the number of Corail Teoz services up to 4 - other lines currently in operation are:

• Paris - Clermont-Ferrand
• Paris – Nancy – Strasbourg
• Paris – Limoges – Brive – Toulouse

Travellers on these lines have increased over 8% in the past two years, confirming the necessity for comfortable cross-country train links. New on-board services have been designed and integrated to ensure travellers’ comfort. First class travellers can reserve their seats in advance, selecting from seating areas with single, double spaces or for 4 and 6 travellers. Spacious leather seating with cushioned head rests and foot rests have been installed for maximum comfort. Each seat has its own light and a lever to raise or recline the seat position. For business travellers, all seating areas have sockets available for recharging lap-tops or mobile telephones. 

Second class travellers also have a choice in seating areas, with double seating and spaces for 4 and 6 passengers. Baggage areas are in the centre of the carriage and sockets are available in certain areas.

Special areas have been designed for travellers with children, offering them more open space with games and room to play, read or relax, without disturbing other passengers. Seating has also been designed for small children as well as a changing table and the possibility to heat a child’s bottle. Lastly, baggage areas are designed to hold several buggys, prams and travel cots.

Two carriages have large sliding doors to facilitate access for wheel chairs and seating has also been adapted to ensure that travellers can access these services more easily.

Travellers bringing their bicycles can do so (surcharge of 10€) in specific carriages on the Corail Teoz services. Special wall fixtures have been installed to this effect.

Eight totally new train sets will come on-board to offer 6 direct daily services and a additional one at week-ends and in the summer season.

Special discounts and bonuses with French & Swiss Rail Passes

The French and Swiss Rail passes offer more than good value for travellers using the national railway networks, they also offer discounts on a wide range of city tours, sporting activities and shopping to ensure travellers get more value for their money in these countries! Some examples are given below:

Switzerland

• Reduced rates on cable cars and mountain trains not included in the Swiss travel scheme
• Reduced rates for bicycle rentals
• Reduced rates on ski and other winter rentals
• 50% discount on Zurich city guide walking tours
• 20% discount on the Basel Card,
• 20% discount in Bern for guided tours
• Discounts on watch & jewelry sold in Gübelin outlets
• And many more bonuses

France

• Free travel on the RER line from the Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris, if in transit through Paris
• Free travel on the RER C line to visit Versailles
• 50% on Parisian boat trips down the Seine with Bateaux Parisiens
• 50% discount on the Sea France ferries operating between Calais-Dover (passengers)
• 50% discount on the Corsican rail network
• With many more discounts available

These and many more money-saving discounts are available with both the France and Switzerland Rail Passes. For more information, your agent can provide you with indepth details.

New TGV EST

In June 2007, 37 million French and Europeans will benefit from the opening of the new TGV Est. Considerable time savings of up to a third compared with current journey times as well as new destinations will broaden access for travellers.

The new service will link in over 30 stations in eastern France. Not only will this line link into the east, but via the hub links in the Paris area, all the French TGV lines will link in together. This means North (Lille, Arras, Bruxelles etc), West (Rennes, Nantes etc) and the South-West (La Rochelle, Bordeaux etc) will be linked, creating the first high-speed cross-country lines.

For foreign travellers, on vacation or on business in France, the new TGV Est means rail travel will be remarkably smoother and faster. International connections will also increase the frontier countries with the new service, to Switzerland, Germany and Luxembourg.

A quick overview:
• Strasbourg to Paris will take only 2h20 compared with 4h today,
• Visits to the Champagne area will take only 45 minutes on the trip between Paris & the Champagne capital Rheims,
• Nantes to Strasbourg, from the western coast to the east of France and doorway to Germany and Luxembourg will take approximately 5h.

We will keep you updated on progress in future issues of our Press Release.

SNCF: new corporate look

“The world is changing and our visual identity must reflect our ability to move with the times and clearly show our ambition to ensure the train is key in transport and the SNCF a major player,” declared Louis Gallois, President of the SNCF when introducing the new corporate look in March 2005.

This new look comes at a time of significant change for the SNCF and its personnel: the opening of Europe’s frontiers, strong customer demands, diverse forms of competition from other types of transport and new private operators entering the markets. The new corporate logo is designed to translate this important mission of change, dynamism and leadership both on a technical and service level. The choice of colours, predominately red, and the shape (somewhat like a TGV) combined, show a company in motion, evolving in a changing world and dealing with the inherent challenges associated with this world. The message is both internal and external.

All TGV (high-speed) trains will have the new logo by May, 80% of the rolling stock will be ready by the end of the year and over 100 train stations by summer time.

The new signature “SNCF, gives the train ideas in advance” symbolises the inherent creativity of the SNCF and its personnel to evolve and adapt to change.

A new advertising campaign will illustrate the innovations introduced by the French Railways with TV ads, radio, press, bill-boards and internet.

                                 

SNCF: on-line advertising campaign

Recently, French railways made a daring foray into a new form of advertising targeting top-end French business travellers via the internet. Humour and viral marketing were used in three short films based on the recurring theme of professionalism and the TGV. Incompetent, stressed-out and invariably late executives messed up in their professional lives…because they didn’t use TGV. The films were easily downloaded and viewers sent them by email to their friends (www.cestunchoix.com). The TGV (high-speed trains) communication manager, Jérémie Zeguerman, said results for this first on-line ad campaign were very satisfactory. Over 1 million people saw the films, with 460,000 visitors to the site.  The conversion rate of 3,37% proved satisfactory as internet-users went on to the TGV internet site to discover current TGV promotions and offers. This France-only campaign ran from 21 September to 21 October 2004 and was awarded the Silver Clic in the e-advertising “Clics d’Or 2005” awards ceremony.

Left-luggage services in France and Switzerland

Most back-packers remember the days when they could go to the left-luggage desk in any train-station, deposit their baggage and head out to explore the sites, safe in the knowledge their belongings were well-looked after.  Left-luggage services offered counter-top service or automatic lockers of different sizes. As a result of heightened security (for example, Plan Vigipirate in France), following a number of terrorist attacks or the threat of such attacks, some railway operators temporarily curtailed or closed these services. This is no longer the case. Proactive measures have replaced the cautionary methods put in place during ‘orange’ periods (i.e. low terrorist threat) with new scanners to check baggage and passengers entering the left-luggage areas.
Travellers can therefore once again avail of these services particularly in main train stations in France. Left-luggage services are now available in the main stations in Paris – Paris Gare de Lyon (gateway to the south of France and Italy), Paris Montparnasse (gateway to the Loire Valley and the Atlantic coast), Paris Gare du Nord (gateway to the north of France and the international services to the UK, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands), Paris Austerlitz (gateway to the south-west and Spain). Regional train stations include Angers, Avignon-Centre, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nantes and Toulouse. For passengers using Marne-la-Vallée Chessy returning to or from Eurodisney, left-luggage facilities are once again in operation.

• Opening hours for left-luggage services are generally from 06.30AM to 11.00PM.
• Costs for small automatic lockers are 3€50, 5€ for the medium-sized ones and 7€50 for the large sized lockers.
• Baggage can be left for 72h, with the exception of Paris Gare du Nord where it can be left for 48h.

In Switzerland, it is customary for train stations to offer left-luggage facilities, ranging in size from small,
medium and large sized lockers, ranging in price from 2 to 8 CHF.