Rail Europe

Rail Europe presents the new Eurostar’s interior designer, Pininfarina

Eurostar, the high-speed rail passenger service that links London to Paris and Brussels announced that they have awarded the design contract for the interior refurbishment of its fleet to the Italian design consultancy Pininfarina. Rail Europe, Eurostar's primary distributor on non-European markets, welcomes this news which will contribute to making travel by train even more comfortable and popular.
Eurostar is already the #1 transportation mode between London and Paris/Brussels. Their goal with this refurbishment is to anticipate the 21st century travelers' expectations and to offer the highest standards in comfort, style and innovation. Pininfarina's design will focus on a great travel experience, thus mixing their style and outstanding functionality with a clear vision of future train travel.
Pininfarina is a world-class design house that is best known for its work in the car industry (with prestige brands such as Ferrari and Maserati) but has also extensive experience in the rail industry, having designed the interiors and exteriors of Italy’s high-speed trains, rolling stock for Swiss, Danish and Norwegian Railways, automated light rail cars in Lille (France) and trams for cities in Italy, Greece, Sweden and Turkey
The first renovated Eurostar trains (out of the 28 in the fleet) are due in service in 2012. This refurbishment follows that of numerous high speed trains in Europe: TGVs in France in 2007 (new design by French designer Christian Lacroix), Italian high speed trains in 2008 (by Pininfarina) as well as Thalys, between France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany, in 2009 (new interiors by Ethoven Associates Design Consultants & Première Design Graphique).
"We're thrilled about this great news, says Laurent Bijaoui, Marketing Director for Rail Europe. As the worldwide leading distributors of European rail products, we are happy have the European railways for partners -and Eurostar in particular - as such initiatives clearly illustrate their sincere and entire commitment to making our customers journeys a safe, comfortable and memorable European experience".

For more information about Eurostar, to purchase your Rail Pass or ticket, please consult your Rail Europe travel agent. Contact details to be found on www.raileurope.fr.

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.”

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.

Visiting the UK

As Europe undergoes a heatwave, the UK is a temperate destination with a number of very interesting World Heritage sites for a holiday destination, combining culture and leisure with the comfort and freedom offered by the train service.

An itinerary could include a selection of sites from some of the following, facilitated by short train rides
between the different sites:

• London to Saltaire – 2h46
Leaving London and travelling to West Yorkshire gives the traveller ample opportunity to view cities and countryside in England. On arrival in Saltaire, which is a well-preserved industrial village dating back to the 19th centry, its textile factories, public buildings and worker’s houses is an interesting historial reminder of a paternalistic Victorian society.

• Saltaire to Durham – 1h40
Moving upwards from Yorkshire to Country Durham, home also to the mining industry, Durham Cathedral is a well-known historic site. Built at the end of the 11th and 12th centuries to house the relics of Saint Cuthbert, the cathedral is a hymn to the Benedictine style and is a fine examle of Norman architecture in England. It is a precursor of Gothic architecture. Behind the cathedral is the ancient Norman castle which was used by the princes and bishops of Durham as their residence.

• Durham to Edinburg – 1h51
Scotland’s capital city combines the 15th century with the 18th centry neoclassical architecture, dominated by the beautiful medieval castle. Edinburg’s rich architectural heritage influenced European urban planning to a great extent. As the gateway to the highlands, Edinburg has a plethora of festivals and cultural activities throughout the year.

• Edinburgh to New Lanark – 1h19
The train ride between Edinburg and New Lanark, located a short train ride from Edinburgh goes through some beautiful Scottish countryside and New Lanark is a 19th century village built by the utopic philantropist, Robert Owen is a tribute to his humanitarism. With the arrival of the industrial revolution in the textile industry, Rowert Owen built an industrial community with factories, workers’ housing and public buildings designed to improve and promote spiritual and physical well-being. Robert Owen and New Lanark are linked closely through his ideas on education, reform, working conditions, international co-operation, garderns and he had a profound influence on social developments throughout the 19th century.

• New Lanark to Liverpool – 4h07
Do not be suprised with the melodic changes of accents between Scotland and Liverpool, the traveller is approaching the home town of the Beatles. No less than 6 centres have been recognised by the World Heritage in Liverpool, in the historic part of the city and the port. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Liverpool was one of the great commercial centres in the world. Liverpool played a major role in the development of the British Empire and was a major port with America, for slaves and immigrants. Liverpool pioneered modern port technology, transport systems and port management.

• Liverpool to London – 2h52                                                                                                       On the train journey from Liverpool to London, the keen traveller can choose from a multitude of guides, an equally large number of historical monuments, museums and exhibitions in London city. For the purposes of this article, we’re looking at the Tower of London, a World Heritage site, built on the Thames by William the Conqueror to protect the city from attack. A stroll around this massive white tower, typical Norman architecture will bring the traveller to many other historic symbols of the monarchy.

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)

Check out these new internet sites

Swiss Travel System – www.swisstravelsystem.ch was launched 1 May to provide partners and visitors with up to date information to prepare for a trip to Switzerland. This ranges from timetable information for trains, buses, boats and mountain cable cars to suggestions and ideas to maximise enjoyment during a visit to the country. Excursions are included, museums as well as special offers to public monuments and exhibitions for travellers using the Swiss Pass.

Lyria – www.tgv-lyria.com was launched mid-June with train timetables for the Lyria service between Paris and Zurich, Lausanne, Brig and Geneva.

Currently the site has information directly linked to the train and its services and will shortly have more
information on cities linked by Lyria, hotels, events, highlights, restaurants and suggestions for visits.

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.

New on-board services

Once upon a time, on-board services meant having a coffee or sandwich on the train. Many more services have been introduced in recent years to ensure that travellers really enjoy their journey. Of course there will always be travellers who may wish to relax, enjoy the landscape whizzing by or read quietly at their seat. However, others seem to prefer renting a DVD for the duration of the trip, going to the bar to enjoy a wide variety of snacks and drinks, moving about and checking out the entertainment facilities on-board.

Most trains now have “quiet” zones, where passengers are kindly requested to switch off their mobile phones, to avoid disturbing their resting fellow companions.Travellers wishing to relax or sleep can even purchase a relaxing kit at the bar of some trains – which includes an eye mask, ear-plugs and a neck cushion... to add to the existing comfort of a reclining seat with a foot-rest. Alternatively, travellers looking to move about can check out on-board activites on some fast trains which may include – testing hi-tech products, following up on cultural events, food samplings to name but a few and depending on the programme available. It is also an ideal way to meet people on board and swap stories. DVDs can be hired from the bar, which also carry a wide selection of newspapers and magazines.

In Portugal, travellers in 1st class between Lisbon and Oporto can enjoy a Japanese massage on board or make an appointment with the beautician or the hair-dresser. These services are available until 15th May.

Germany – why not rent a bike to explore major cities?

Explore Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt or Munich by bike, a relaxed and different way to see the sights at a leisurely pace. The German Railways have developed a service called Call a Bike for travellers to these four cities. No doubt more cities will be included in the programme at a later stage. The service offers high-tech bikes at reasonable rates and only requires a a simple phone call. Would-be bikers can pay by credit or debit card to the hotline registration service and bicycles can be picked up and returned at any of the major cross-roads.

On calling the service hotline number 0700 05 22 55 22, visitors can register for bike rental. Credit card holders are debited 5€, which is then deducted from the final amount due. The hotline service provides a code to be used on arrival at the nearest cross-roads where bicycles await their future riders. Simply press the red button on the electronic lock and if green (indicating the bicycle is not in use), enter the code provided by the service hotline and the bike is released. Returning the bike is also simple. Lock the bike at the cross-roads nearest your stop-off point, press the electronic lock which provides another code and call the service hotline to end the rental charges. Bikes can be rented for as long as you wish, by the minute, by the day...by the week. At 7 cents per minute for casual users, or 15€ for day trippers or 60€ for the week, Call a Bike offers a great way to visit top German cities.