Rail Europe

High-speed comfort with Thalys and Rail Europe

The high-speed Thalys trains connect Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne at speeds of up to 186mph (300kph).

Passengers onboard can enjoy spacious, air-conditioned carriages with comfortable seats, and hot and cold refreshments, as well as free wifi access.

Thalys tickets offers two classes for train travellers in Europe : Comfort 1 and Comfort 2.

 

Comfort 1

Business travellers or those who want a little more luxury should opt for Comfort 1 as there is slightly more space in the Comfort 1 carriages, with three seats across each carriage, rather than the four ones in Comfort 2.

Comfort 1 passengers will also have a meal served in seat. Depending on the time of day Comfort 1 passengers will be offered a full balanced breakfast, or a balanced lunch or dinner comprising of a cold main course, cheese and a dessert.

For those travelling over the weekend, brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays and includes savoury or sweet items, a dairy product or a dessert, orange juice, a small dish of fruit and jam and pastries. Snacks are also offered during the journey and food is accompanied by a wide selection of hot or cold drinks.

For those who want to work or relax there is free wifi access available and electrical power points can be found in several carriages.

For those who prefer to read, Comfort 1 staff will also offer passengers a range of newspapers and magazines in a selection of languages.

Passengers travelling to Paris or Brussels with Thalys in Comfort 1 can also take advantage of the taxi booking service. And anyone travelling from Cologne, Rotterdam or Amsterdam Schiphol Airport can us the Thalys VIP lounge.

Comfort 2

Thalys Comfort 2 tickets holders will also have an enjoyable and relaxing inter-city trip.

For those passengers who wish to access the internet in Comfort 2, free wifi is available for all passengers who book SEMI-FLEX, B2B and Thalys ThePass fares.

For other fares in Comfort 2, wifi credits can be easily purchased onboard on ThalysNet or at the Thalys Bar in carriages 4 or 14.

 

The Thalys Bar in carriage 4 or 14 serves hot dishes, sandwiches, sweet and savoury snacks, salads, and hot and cold drinks, including organic and Fair-trade products. Vegetarians are also well catered for.

Thalys staff is multilingual and the train managers will be able to answer any questions travellers may have during the journey.

For those travelling with luggage Thalys offers a generous luggage allowance. All passengers are allowed two suitcases and one piece of hand luggage onboard, as well as prams and buggies for small children, folding bicycles (with the front wheel removed), skis in a protective cover and portable musical instruments.

Train passengers to Europe who are looking to travel on the high speed Thalys trains can find information and tickets online with Rail Europe and can book online to receive their print at home ticket, so they don’t have to queue at the station.

Adults travelling with a child also get a 50 per cent discount.

To see Amsterdam, Cologne, Paris, Brussels, Rotterdam and more, take the Thalys.

 

A cultural tour: Italy, France, The Netherlands and Germany.

 For travellers looking for Europe’s cultural treasures, travelling by train with Rail Europe brings incredible cities and their sights within easy reach, and there is no better country to start in than Italy; and no better city to start in than Rome.

The Eternal city has some of Europe’s most popular historic sights, including the Vatican Museum and its incredible masterpieces, the Colosseum and the Forum, and the National Gallery of Modern Art, with its broad range of neoclassical and Romantic paintings and sculptures, which will bring all this culture into context.

From Rome take the train three and a half hours north to Venice and continue on the cultural tour of Italy at the Guggenheim museum on the Grand Canal.

Nearby is the Accademia gallery where visitors will find paintings from Venice’s past, depicting its wealth and importance as a merchant city over the years.

From Venice train travellers are just two and a half hours from Milan, where visitors can enjoy the works of Picasso, Matisse and Grassi in the Ambrosiana and Brera Art Galleries.

After soaking up Italy’s culture, head out of the country and explore further afield in Europe’s cultural playground.

Take the Thello overnight train to Paris for the world-famous Louvre and Centre Pompidou before checking out some of the smaller galleries; L'Espace Dali and Musée Gustave Moreau.

From Paris the high-speed red Thalys train takes just over three hours to reach Amsterdam.

Visit the Torch gallery for the latest take on modern thinking, and De Beeldenwinkel to marvel at the intricate sculptures on display.

For a more traditional cultural tour of Amsterdam don’t miss the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum.

From Amsterdam, Germany’s fascinating second city, Berlin is just six hours away by train.

Travellers will find the open air museum of the Berlin Wall, with its colourful political murals, the Pergamon, the Altes, the National Gallery and the Bode Museum, and will soon realise Europe’s cultural tour could go on and on...

 

Train Times:

Rome – Venice 3h30

Venice – Milan 2h30

Milan – Paris 9h50

Paris – Amsterdam 3h20

Amsterdam – Berlin 6h

 

With Rail Europe, Spain’s RENFE network reaches far and wide

Over the last ten years, the Spanish rail network (RENFE), which serves all the major cities in Spain, has undergone a major refurbishment programme, cutting journey times by up to 50 per cent.

 The high-speed Tren de Alta Velocidad (AVE), which is also known as “Big Bird” by the Spaniards, operates from Madrid to Seville, Toledo, Zaragoza, Huesca and Lleida and is currently being extended countrywide.

When the high-speed network is complete, all of Spain’s provincial capitals will be within four hours of Madrid, and under six and a half hours from Barcelona.

The aim is for the AVE to become part of a Europe-wide, high-speed rail network connecting to the French and Portuguese rail networks.

 

The AVE trains offer rail passengers three classes to choose from: First class (Club), Business class (Preferente) and Tourist class (Turista), as well as sleeping accommodation for those embarking on international travel.

The high-speed trains are air conditioned and seats recline to a comfortable angle, while films are shown on television screens.

There is also a restaurant car serving hot and cold snacks and refreshments, and a trolley service too.

The Spanish railway system’s hub is Madrid, which has two main stations: Chamartin and Puerta de Atocha, which has recently been renovated.

Trains from Madrid’s Chamartin serve A Coruña, Albacete, Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Irún, León, Lugo, Ourense, Oviedo, Salamanca, Santander, Soria, Vallodolid, Zamora and Zaragossa, as well as destinations in France and the local area.

Trains departing from the upgraded Puerta de Atocha will whisk passengers to Castilla-La Mancha, Andalusia and Extremadura, including Almeria, Badajoz, Cadiz, Ciudad Real, Cordoba, Cuenca, Granada, Malaga, Mérida, Salamanca, Seville, Toledo and Valencia, as well as destinations in Portugal and the local area.

From Madrid there are three lines which take passengers all over the country and beyond. Two lines extend to the French border and another line takes passengers to Andalusia and the Levante.

One of the most beautiful train journeys in southern Spain is on the RENFE line from Ronda to Jimena de la Frontera.

For those interested in International travel from Spain, RENFE also operates the Trenhotel, which is a long distance international service to France, Italy and Switzerland.

The Trenhotel offers sleeping compartments and couchettes and runs between Madrid and Paris, as well as between Barcelona and Milan, Barcelona and Paris and Barcelona and Zurich.

For any travellers to Spain, the RENFE network opens up huge possibilities to explore and discover the diverse and beautiful Spanish countryside, cities and towns.

From Milan to Barcelona, Barcelona to Seville, Seville to Valencia and to other European countries, Spain, and beyond, is possible with RENFE’s extensive rail network and Rail Europe.

 

Eurail Pass benefits explained

Train travellers to Europe who have opted for the popular Eurail Passes will be pleased to note the benefits these rail passes offer.

Passengers travelling with a Eurail Pass can visit up to 23 European countries with the Eurail Global Pass or five bordering European countries among 24 with the Eurail Select Pass, or individual or groups of countries with passes such as the Eurail Italy Pass or the Eurail France-Germany Pass.

Eurail Pass holders experience greater flexibility on their travels in Europe and one of the most popular benefits of having the Eurail Pass is the discounted and free travel on various European ferry crossings.

For example, travellers often take a free ferry between Greece and Italy, and some make a stop at the stunning island of Corfu.

Other benefits include discounts on hotels, museums and additional transport.

To take full advantage of the benefits, which come with the Eurail Pass, passengers should contact the individual companies involved in advance or at the time of booking and note that some offers may require an advance reservation to benefit from any discount.

 

Flexi and Continuous Passes

Train travellers exploring Europe with a Eurail pass should note that there is a difference between the Flexi pass and the Continuous pass when using free and discounted benefits.

Travellers with the Eurail Flexi pass who use a free benefit, such as a ferry crossing from Italy’s Bari to Croatia’s Dubrovnik, will use up one travel day, even if they are not using a train on that day.

However, travellers holding a Eurail Continuous pass can use free and discounted benefits such as a ferry journey or bus ride, on any day their pass is valid.

Travellers with a Eurail Flexi pass using the benefit of free ferry travel on international shipping routes, must make sure their pass is valid in the country of departure and the country of arrival (for discounted ferry travel the pass only needs to be valid for either the country of departure or the country of arrival).

 

The Eurail passes consist of a ticket and a pass cover and travellers should make a note in the Travel Report on their pass before they board a train, bus or boat.

Popular routes for Eurail pass holders include: Florence-Rome, Amsterdam-Brussels, Prague-Vienna, Munich-Fussen and Lucerne-Interlaken.

For more ideas on where to travel and which countries to visit with the Eurail Global pass, the Eurail Select pass and the individual and group country Eurail train passes, as well as tips and popular itineraries, check out Raileurope’s website.

Travellers who make full use of the Eurail Pass benefits can explore and enjoy even more of what Europe has to offer. 

 

All aboard for Rail Europe’s castles

Train travellers to Europe cannot miss the incredible heritage the continent has to offer and nothing shows this off more than its historic castles.

Rail Europe can offer the best way to explore Europe and all its treasures with the Eurail Select Pass or Eurail Global pass.

Rail Europe’s rail passes give travellers the freedom to travel in and around five bordering countries (Eurail Select Pass) or to all the 23 countries on the Rail Europe European network (the Eurail Global pass).

But for now, let’s just concentrate on the castles…

Imagine you start in Germany and visit the incredible castles of King Ludwig II. Take the train to Fussen and join Schwangau by bus thanks to Public transportation from train station Füssen to Hohenschwangau in about 15 Minutes to visit the Neuschwanstein castle, the most famous castle imagined by Louis II. You will then see the Hohenschwangau mansion that probably then inspired the King.

 

Perhaps the most famous castles in Europe are those of France’s Loire Valley. Train travellers can jump on the high speed TGV for a memorable tour of the Loire Valley. From Paris by train, stop at Blois or Orleans and then take a bus or a daily shuttle that link Chambord or Sully. All are close together. It would be easy to spend many days in the Loire Valley but Rail Europe has many more treats in store.

From the Chateaux of France take the TGV up to Paris and hop on the Eurostar to London. From London you can catch the First Great Western train to Windsor Castle, the largest castle in Europe or take the train up to Scotland – to Edinburgh and its Royal Mile with the castle overlooking the city.

Once you are in Scotland almost everywhere you look there is a castle and you can take a train tour of the beautiful majestic country taking in Stirling Castle and Urquhart Castle overlooking Loch Ness on the way.

For information on European destinations, itinerary ideas and fantastic deals on train fares, travellers can find everything they need to plan and book the perfect train tour around Europe with Rail Europe.

 

 

 

Rail Europe & RENFE celebrate exceptional sales for Spanish train tickets in 2011

More high speed services, excellence in service and aggressive pricing have helped Renfe Operadora attract more travellers in 2011, thus gaining market shares against other mode of transportation. In a gloomy economic environment, the 2011 performance of Spain's National Railways was remarkable, with passenger numbers increasing by 2,9%, in excess of 468 million.

The impressive afflux of travellers from non-European countries boosted these results. With a growth in travellers' numbers approaching 70%, Rail Europe 4A, the largest distributor of train tickets in the world and primary distributor or Renfe products, opens the doors of Renfe high speed trains to more and more people.

All Rail Europe 4A markets are in the black, top 3 countries being Japan, Brazil and Argentina.

 

Enrike Urkijo, General Manager of Renfe Passenger Division & Pierre-Stéphane Austi, CEO of Rail Europe, celebrate the 2011 results in Madrid

"We are very proud of our results", says Pierre-Stéphane Austi, CEO of Rail Europe. "They demonstrate how an intelligent, win-win cooperation can bring great results to all parties, distributors and carriers alike".

The two companies indeed signed a direct agreement in April 2011, which proved instrumental in reaching such positive results. The agreement allowed among others a direct connexion between the two companies' distribution systems, access to a larger range of fares (including the "low cost" ones) and e-ticketing facilities.

"This agreement was a major step in our distribution strategy, allowing us to better serve our clients in the non-European markets thanks to Rail Europe presence. Today we are happy to celebrate an excellent first year, and look forward to repeating this performance in 2012", says Javier Casado Ucieda, Sales and Marketing Director at Renfe.

In 2012, Rail Europe expects sales of Renfe tickets to grow fast too. Acting as a one-stop-shop for rail products in Europe and in Spain in particular, the company will continue to promote train travel in Spain, and benefit from all improvements undertaken by Renfe. With faster trains between major cities -it now takes only 2h30 door to door between Madrid and Barcelona or 1h38 between Madrid and Valencia- and very low lead-in prices, trains are more than ever the best way to travel in Spain!

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Renfe-Operadora is the national railways of Spain and one of the largest rail carriers in the world. Operating the most modern fleet in the world, on the longest high speed rail network in Europe, it offers a seamless travel experiences thanks to excellent quality of service, numerous frequencies and unmatched punctuality. Its flagship train, the AVE, is the most punctual and fastest high speed train in Europe.

Rail Europe is the #1 distributor of train tickets and rail passes in the world, selling through appointed General Sales Agents and directly on the web through localised websites (local currency, local language, local service).

For more information about Rail Europe products, to purchase Renfe train tickets, any train tickets or rail passes, please consult your Rail Europe travel agent. Contact details to be found on www.raileurope.fr

 

TGV’s best available fares

 For anyone travelling around France by train it is impossible to ignore the sleek high speed TGV.

France’s high speed TGV takes millions of train travellers all over France and many of them are enjoying a secret benefit - the TGV Prem's tickets.

TGV Prem’s tickets are available to buy 90 days before a train departs and offer the lowest fares available on the network.

Train travellers in France planning to take a day trip out of Paris or a weekend away, or those who wish to travel during the school holidays can still benefit from the Prem’s as the low fares are available during these peak travel times.

The idea is that the more flexible you are the better deal you will get on the TGV tickets, so travellers should note that TGV Prem’s tickets may have slightly later departure times or departures staggered throughout the day, and these tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. If you have a bit of time to be flexible TGV Prem’s are a great option for saving on train fares and they still get you where you want to go, at high speed and in the comfort of the TGV.

The TGV whisks people all over the French countryside, linking major cities to smaller towns as well as the picturesque mountains and beaches.

Train travellers can reach all corners of the country from the hub in Paris – for example you can travel from Paris to Dijon in just 1 hour 40 minutes or head to the coast and Bordeaux and Marseille with the TGV in just over three hours.

The TGV Prem’s gives you the ideal excuse to visit several cities in one visit to this diverse country. Why not spend a romantic weekend away in Avignon? The train from Paris takes just 2 hours and 40 minutes. Or in just under 2 hours you could be dining out in Lyon, the foodie centre of France.

The best way a train traveller can make the most of a TGV Prem’s is to plan the journey in advance. Travellers should book their tickets 90 days before departure to get the best deals.

Train travellers in Europe should also check out the many destinations and routes for the TGV on Rail Europe’s website to benefit from tips and ideas for their travel itinerary.

Passengers who can be a little bit flexible with their travel plans will benefit the most, and because TGV Prem’s ticket holders are more flexible, it means they can take a leisurely breakfast before catching the later train departure – a much more relaxing way to travel and even better knowing it is for a great price.

Finally, train travellers looking to bag a TGV Prem’s deal should regularly log on and check Rail Europe for last minute Prem’s deals.

If you’re quick off the mark you could be travelling at high speed towards a fantastic deal and a weekend break or holiday with the kids in no time.

 

 

Trenitalia’s destinations for the high speed Frecciarossa

For travellers enjoying the sights of Italy, Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa trains are the fastest way to see the country, and connect to all the major cities and smaller towns.

Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa trains carry around 1 million passengers a month on the high speed lines running from the north to the south of the country.

There are around 500 of the high speed Frecciarossa trains in the fleet, which can reach speeds of up to 360 km/h, and travel at an average speed of 300 km/hour on the high speed tracks.

Train travellers in Italy can explore the entire country in a fast and enjoyable way. Popular routes include Milan to Turin in under an hour, the direct train from Milan to Rome in just less than three hours, Naples to Bologna in less than four hours and Naples to Rome in just over an hour.

Another top route for travellers in Italy is the service from Turin to Rome, which takes four hours and 30 minutes. This popular route offers 14 daily connections with stops at Milan Porta Garibaldi and Milan Rogoredo, as well as Bologna and Florence.
Another popular way to see Italy by train is to catch the high speed Frecciarossa train between Milan and Rome. This picturesque journey takes just under 3 hours.

A selection of the Frecciarossa trains on the Milan to Rome route also make stops at Bologna, Florence, Naples, Piacenza, Parma, Reggio Emilia and Modena so for any train travellers with the Italy Rail Pass, there is no excuse. Italy is at their feet, and they can go anywhere in the country in any order they like.

Train travellers with the Eurail Italy rail pass should check out the options on Rail Europe for ideas and tips about train travel in Italy as well as great fares and deals.

Travellers using Trenitalia trains can enjoy both first and second class options and all trains feature air conditioning, sound proof walls, comfortable seats and plenty of storage space for weekend bags and luggage for longer trips.

First class passengers receive a welcome drink and, in the mornings, a daily paper.

The six second class carriages offer 408 seats and separate toilet facilities for men and women.

The third carriage has two business lounges with eight seats and a toilet as well as room for wheelchair users.

Every seat on the Frecciarossa trains has power outlets so that you can work on your laptop, watch a movie or listen to music and there is a restaurant on board serving hot and cold snacks and beverages so train passengers travel in comfort and with ease.

Italy is a diverse and beautiful country from its mountains to its spectacular coastline, from the vineyards to the pizza parlours, and Trenitalia’s high speed Frecciarossa trains can transport travellers across the country with great comfort and ease.

For travel tips on Italy from city guides on Milan, Naples, Turin, Bologna and more visit the Rail Europe website and start planning a fantastic Italian adventure.

 

City breaks with Eurostar

Train travellers in Europe can enjoy great city breaks with the high speed Eurostar trains, which serve London, Paris, Brussels and Lille.

The fleet of 27 trains run regularly between these cities and travellers should check Rail Europe’s destinations and guides for some fantastic deals on weekend breaks and visits in Europe with Eurostar.

The high speed trains offer three classes – Standard class with the comfortable seats and well stocked buffet car, Standard Premier class, where passengers are served a light meal in their seats and Business Premier where passengers have more leg room and are served a three course meal in their seats.

Another benefit for anyone thinking of taking a city break with Eurostar is that the check in times are as little as 30 minutes before departure, so there is no question of wasting valuable moments of your weekend break hanging around in an airport – Eurostar passengers just arrive, check in and step onto the train.

The high speed trains travel between King’s Cross in London to Paris, Brussels, Lille, and Amsterdam, and Eurostar also has a special summer service to the pretty French walled city of Avignon.

Train travellers can be whisked from London to Paris, Brussels and Lille in no time at all and connection times are impressive.

London Paris is a journey time of just over 2 hours – perfect for a romantic weekend away or even a special lunch or evening meal.

Rail Europe has tips and guides for Paris city breaks and some great deals on fares too so rail travellers looking for some great deals on train tickets in Europe should check out Rail Europe’s website regularly.

From London, the Belgium city of Brussels is also just under two hours away and before you know it you could be sitting in the Grand Place watching the world go by sipping on coffee or sharing a beer with friends. Brussels has incredible architecture, museums, art galleries and city tours – it is a great city break and Rail Europe has some fantastic Eurostar fares on its website.

Lille is another ideal city for a weekend break and is under two hours from London when train travellers take the high speed Eurostar.

A popular connection from Brussels is a weekend break to Bruges. For those looking for a city break with a difference, Bruges is considered the Venice of the north and offers a quiet thoughtful weekend destination. Eurostar trains serve the picturesque town from London in just three hours.

During the summer months on of the most popular routes on the Eurostar trains is the service down to Avignon.

For more information on all city breaks and destination guides see Rail Europe’s website.

 

Thalys launches flexible fare structure

 At the end of last year Thalys launched a new range of fares, for any rail passengers travelling on the high speed red trains from March 11 onwards.

Thalys, which links Belgium to Paris, Amsterdam, Cologne and Rotterdam,  now offers three different types of fares so passengers can choose from three levels of flexibility to suit their needs.

All Thalys tickets can be booked on Rail Europe’s website, where travellers will find useful tips and maps, as well as suggested routes and itineraries to help them plan their journeys in Europe.

The three different fares are known as Full Fare, Leisure Fare and Book Early.

 

Full Fares are for those passengers travelling in first class (known as Comfort 1 on the Thalys trains). This fare offers the maximum flexibility, for example, travellers can exchange tickets right up until the time of departure and can also take the train before, or the train after, the train they hold a ticket for. Full Fare prices are as follows:

Taking the Thalys between Paris and Brussels is from AUS$181, between Paris and Amsterdam the Full Fare is from AUS$281 and for the journey between Paris and Cologne the first price is AUS$ 243.

 

Leisure Fares are available in both first and second class (Comfort 1&2) and offer a good compromise on flexibility and services. Travellers who opt for the Leisure Fare will be able to surf the internet free of charge, from March 11^th, even when travelling in second class.

Other benefits of this fare type are that tickets are exchangeable, once, up to three days before departure.

Travellers can book the Thalys Leisure fare on Rail Europe’s website and get some tips and ideas about their trip. First class Leisure Fare prices start from AUS$85 between Paris and Brussels.

 

Book Early fares are for all passengers taking a trip by Thalys in second class (Comfort 2). These tickets offer some of the lowest prices but are non exchangeable and non refundable. Book Early prices start from AUS$42 between Paris and Brussels.

 

Train passengers to Europe who are looking to travel on the high speed Thalys trains can find information and tickets online with Rail Europe and can book online to receive their print at home ticket, so they don’t have to queue at the station. See Rail Europe for more information.