Rail Europe

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.

 

 

Rhine-Rhône high-speed line opens

The new high speed lines on the TGV Rhine-Rhône network are now open creating faster journey times within France and onwards to Switzerland and Germany.

TGV high speed trains will transport around 12 million passengers on the French, Swiss and German rail networks taking rail travellers to important cities and regions, without having to go through Paris.

Journey times have been cut bringing Europe closer together and increasing the reach of the TGV.

The Rhine-Rhône line consolidates France’s strength as a hub for rail travel in Europe, and was cited by the European Union as a priority connection for the European transport network, when work began back in 2006.

 The 2,312 billion Euro project was financed by 20 partners including the French State, the European Union, Switzerland, the Burgundy region, Franche-Comté, Alsace and the Railroad network of France.

The high speed lines on the Rhine-Rhône network include an eastern branch between Dijon (Burgundy) and Mulhouse (Alsace) via two new stations: Belfort-Montbeliard and Bescancon Franche-Comte, which are regions well worth exploring.

The other high speed sections are a spur towards the Rhône-Alpes region and a southern line between Paris and Lyon and onwards to the Mediterranean.

The opening of the 140km TGV Rhine-Rhône line affects two routes. Paris-Mulhouse-Zurich and Germany-Strasbourg-Lyon-southern France.

Journey times on the TGV on these routes have been reduced by as much as 90 minutes between Mulhouse and Marseille and Dijon and Strasbourg.

For example Dijon - Strasbourg now has a journey time of 2 hours (instead of 3 hours 40 minutes), Paris-Belfort-Montbéliard now takes 2 hours 15 minutes (instead of 3 hours 50 minutes) while the Paris-Besancon route now takes just two hours. Dijon is now only 1 hour and 25 minutes from Basel in Switzerland and Lyon is just under five hours from Frankfurt.

No fewer than six TGV services run every day between Strasbourg and Lyon, five of which continue down to the Mediterranean coast (Marseille, Montpellier etc.), with journey times cut by at least one hour.

From March 23, the new Euroduplex TGV train (comfortable double-decker train) will whisk passengers daily between Germany’s Frankfurt and France’s Strasbourg and onwards to Lyon and Marseille.

Individual and group fares are now available to book and the new service will be priced similarly to the successful Paris-Frankfurt/Stuttgart route, which has been in operation since December.

Passengers using the line on the TGV Lyria trains should note that all trains will now leave from Gare de Lyon.

 

Travelling with a France Rail Pass has never been so easy…

Rail Europe is delighted to announce the launch of a new product, specifically tailored for non-European travelers, which will make travel in France even easier: the France Rail Pass "Easy Access" Passholder fare. This new kind of reservation is available as of today for France Rail Pass Holders.
As a reminder, the France Rail Pass is the best rail pass to travel in France. Holders of this pass can enjoy unlimited travel on the 31 000 km of the French Rail network aboard some of the most modern and comfortable trains in the world, including the famous TGV (the French high speed train, running at up to 320 km/h) as well as scenic and regional trains.

France Rail Pass offers great value for money and comes in different validities, to match everyone's need. As reservation is compulsory in France on most trains, travelers just need to purchase in complement to their pass, the reservation corresponding to the train they want to board, as much in advance as possible in order to ensure availability.

That’s where the “Easy Access” Passholder fare is so interesting: not only because it only costs 12€, but above all, unlike a regular Passholder Fare, it is not subject to availability… In other words, France Rail Pass holders always have the possibility to book a reservation on a train, even 1 hour before train departure (provided there are still seats available on the train!).  This fare is a France Rail Pass exclusive only offer.

This new benefit adds to the impressive list of special prices and bonuses already offered by premium partners, and makes the France Rail Pass the best companion to discover France. Visit the France Rail Pass official website www.francerailpass.com to build your perfect itinerary thanks to relevant tips and original suggestions.

The France Rail Pass Easy Access Passholder fare is only sold by Rail Europe accredited agents and direct websites, and in France by SNCF ticket desks.
Rail Europe is the world's largest distribution network of European Railways' products and the official distributor of the France Rail Pass. Through its distribution network and websites, Rail Europe allows travellers from all over the world to easily, smoothly and securely book all their rail journeys in Europe
For more information about the France Rail Pass, to purchase your Pass and book your seat on French trains, please contact your Rail Europe travel agent. Contact details to be found on www.raileurope.fr/wheretobuy

Rail Europe introduces “Rail Racer”, an addictive worldwide interactive game

Rail Europe, the leader of European rail passes and tickets distribution worldwide celebrates its web expansion with a unique online game. Rail Racer aims at making European Rail travel more visible for overseas travelers, and to incite them to play and compete with other web surfers from many countries such as Australia, Japan, Brazil to quote but a few. Winners can win up to 1 month of free travel in Europe (transport by rail + hotel)!

Very recreational and interactive, this game has been launched on the 5th May. As easy as 1-2-3, players just have to direct a train through picturesque landscapes and avoid funny obstacles to reach its destination. The more smoothly you drive, the more points you collect and the more chances you get to win the 1st prize. On the 31st of December 2009, a lucky draw will designate, amongst the best drivers, the happy winner of one month of unlimited travel in Europe for 2 people. The first prize includes unlimited train travel in 1st class as well as accommodations in 3-star Accor hotels.

Want to see more? Just log on to raileurope-worldgame.com to enjoy the thrill of this unique train driver experience!

Available in 4 languages -English, Japanese, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese- Rail Europe's Rail Racer is a world premiere. Not only because people all across the globe will be able to play the same game, at the same time and in different countries and languages, but also because of its conception: numerous preferred partners have indeed been associated to make Rail Europe's Rail Racer a reality, such as TGV, the French world famous high speed train, the Burgundy Region and Accor Hospitality, the world class hotel group.

Rail Europe wanted to work with another leading company to build its game and chose 1000mercis, a France-based agency, renowned as a pioneer in interactive advertising and marketing, with an unmatched expertise in recruiting and increasing the customers’ loyalty. Yseulys Costes, CEO and cofounder of 1000mercis Group said: “For 1000mercis, this campaign represents a new challenge: to create and launch an effective worldwide game. The game enabled us to apply our models of interactive advertising and marketing to other cultures and different populations, in order to understand and analyze the differences and eventually increase our operations performances”.

“This worldwide operation will be instrumental in further developing Rail Europe's already strong presence on the web. It is the opportunity to create buzz around our company, our products and our partners and represents a major stake in the implementation of our CRM strategy” said Pierre-Stéphane Austi, Rail Europe's CEO.

So don't wait anymore, and go to www.raileurope-worldgame.com to get a chance to win one month of unlimited travel in Europe for 2 people, with Rail Europe's Rail Racer.

To learn more about Rail Europe, its products and its distribution network, click on www.raileurope.fr

Rail Europe is the worldwide leader in European rail distribution, and the primary distributor of TGV. Through its distribution network and websites, Rail Europe allows travellers from all over the world to easily, smoothly and securely book all their rail journeys in Europe.

The famous France Railpass is getting a makeover

Thanks to an expanded “bonus program” and a new information website, the France Railpass, already the best way to travel in France, is now better than ever!

Offering unlimited travel on the French national rail network, the France Railpass enables travellers to go virtually anywhere.  Travel on this special pass includes some of the most comfortable trains in the world such as the TGV, the French high speed train, as well as scenic and regional trains. The France Railpass is also available in a variety of durations (validities from 3 up to 10 days of travel) and formulas (child, youth, senior and "saver" for 2 persons or more), to match anyone’s travel needs. Simply put, the France Railpass is the perfect travel mate to explore France’s nooks and crannies!

To make the most of one's trip in France, the France Railpass always has offered special prices and bonuses from handpicked partners. The good news is that these benefits are now even more numerous than before! From restaurants to hotels, spas, museums, outdoor activities etc., anyone can find a treat that will make them feel special while travelling in France!

To know more about the France Railpass, travellers can go to www.francerailpass.com, the new France Railpass's show window. Full of travel tips and ideas, this site has been designed to help travellers plan their trip in France with relevant and practical information. The thematic itineraries are a great tool, helping plan one's itinerary according to particular interests: "Heritage", "Family", "Young Rider", "Gastronomy & Wine", "Well Being" and "Urban Clubber". Everyone can find something of interest here!

Rail Europe is the exclusive distributor of the France Railpass. For more information about travel in France or to purchase a France Railpass, please contact one of Rail Europe's travel agents. Contacts can 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.”

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.”