A GUIDE TO EUROPEAN RAIL PASSES SOLD IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1998 **************************************************************** By: Phil Richards CompuServe: 101471,731 Introduction A survey detailing of the range of unlimited travel rail passes marketed by Rail Europe in the UK. Rail Europe (a subsidiary company of French National Railways) acquired British Rail International who were formerly responsible for the marketing of these products. Disclaimer Unless specified, all prices and conditions are valid until 31 December 1998 but are are likely to alter or be withdrawn at any time without notice. Neither myself (Phil Richards CSi ID: 101471,731), CSi, Rail Europe, or any of their agencies will be held responsible for any errors in this document or changes that take place. Important Information All prices shown are in UK currency (GBP) as advertised by Rail Europe, the same passes may be on sale outside of the UK for differant prices but your attention is drawn to the fact that certain passes have strict residency conditions. 1 InterRail (-26 and 26+) Eligibility - Available to anyone who is normally resident or has lived in Europe (including the former USSR) or North Africa for a minimum of 6 consecutive months at the time of application. The applicant's passport must be presented at the point of sale for verification of this. From 1 January 1998, the InterRail 26+ Pass has been brought in to line with the -26 Pass to offer the same zonal format and conditions. -26 Pass holders must be under 26 years old on the first day of validity of the pass. Availability - 8 zones exist as follows: Zone A - Republic of Ireland Zone B - Norway, Sweden, Finland Zone C - Germany, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland Zone D - Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia Zone E - France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg Zone F - Spain, Portugal, Morocco Zone G - Italy, Greece, Slovenia, Turkey, ADN/HML (Ferry service Brindisi to Patras) Zone H - Bulgaria, Romania, Jugoslavia, Macedonia Included - Unlimited 2nd Class travel is included over national railways of the above countries, in addition discounts available over various private railways and shipping companies as well as Railway museums. Discount of 34% available on National Rail fares within the UK. InterRail holders are entitled to the 2nd Class Passholder fares on Eurostar - see section 6 of this file. Not included - Supplements for fast trains (TGV, EC, IC, Thalys, X2000 etc.), reservation charges for seats and sleeping accommodation on board trains. Travel not permitted on AVE or Train Hotel Services to or within Spain. Prices No. Zones Validity -26 26+ One 22 days 159 229 Two 1 Month 209 279 Three 1 Month 229 309 All Zones 1 Month 259 349 2 - EuroDomino Passes (marketed as Freedom Passes) Eligibility - Anyone, there are no residency requirements. For Youth rates (2nd Class only), under 26 on first date of validity - proof of age required Children's rates (please enquire for exact age limitations) 50% of Adult 2nd or 1st rates, rounded up to nearest pound. EuroDomino Passes offer unlimited travel for any 3, 5 or 10 days within one month of the national railway network of the relevant country, starting date is nominated at time of purchase. Discounted travel available on Eurostar (Pass Holder fares) to Lille, Calais-Fréthun and Paris for those holding EuroDomino passes for France. In general fast train supplements are included, but not reservation charges for seats, sleeping accommodation. Special fares/supplements are payable on the following: CityNightLine (Germany to Switzerland/Austria) AVE/Talgo trains between Madrid and Sevilla (Spain) Hotel Trains from Lisboa, Paris, Zürich and Milano to Spain Thalys (Paris to Belgium, Netherlands and Köln) InterCityNight (Germany) Eurostar Italia (Italy) IC Plus/Pendelino Plus (Finland) TGVs from Paris/Lyon to Italy NB: In the case of International journeys a pass is required only for one country, i.e. at the start or finish of the journey made. Overnight journeys starting after 1900, all travel is counted as for the following days date. Prices Country Any 3 Days Any 5 Days Any 10 Days in 1 Month in 1 Month in 1 Month 1st 2nd Yth 1st 2nd Yth 1st 2nd Yth ADN/HML (1) 82 67 52 82 67 52 82 67 52 Austria 136 96 76 150 105 79 256 176 139 Belgium N/A 49 39 79 59 39 138 97 77 Bulgaria 59 39 29 69 49 39 115 79 68 Croatia 49 39 29 59 45 38 102 69 59 Czech Republic 59 39 29 79 59 39 126 89 69 Denmark 96 68 49 131 89 69 168 117 89 Finland 117 79 59 152 107 79 201 139 108 France (2) N/A 105 85 210 145 115 330 220 185 France (3) N/A 105 85 195 135 100 300 200 165 Germany 181 120 90 196 131 98 267 178 134 Greece 79 59 49 103 69 49 146 103 69 Hungary 59 39 39 89 59 49 169 109 88 Rep. Ireland N/A 49 39 N/A 69 69 N/A 104 95 Italy 140 99 79 185 129 101 265 182 140 Luxembourg 29 19 19 34 24 24 59 39 29 Morocco 49 29 29 59 49 49 115 88 85 Netherlands 47 34 25 73 54 39 134 96 67 Norway 119 89 69 167 129 99 216 169 129 Poland 58 39 39 69 49 45 99 79 59 Portugal 88 66 59 109 81 66 154 110 88 Romania 54 39 29 79 49 39 131 89 69 Slovakia 49 29 29 59 39 39 79 59 49 Slovenia 39 29 19 59 39 29 89 59 39 Spain 113 89 69 163 133 106 271 227 182 Sweden 139 109 79 199 149 109 264 198 149 Switzerland (4) 117 83 68 132 93 74 164 118 93 Turkey 39 29 19 59 39 29 95 68 49 Yugoslavia 59 49 39 69 49 39 104 79 59 Notes: (1) ADN/HML - Ferry service between Brindisi (Italy) & Patras (Greece) (2) France - Valid for travel 1 June to 31 July 1998 (3) France - Valid for travel 1 April to 30 May and 1 August to 31 December 1998. (4) Swiss Euro Domino - The following railways participate in the scheme: SBB, BLS, BN, BT, FART, MOB, MThB, RhB, RS, SEZ, SOB, SSIF. Only these operators now participate in the scheme, previously many more public transport undertakings accepted this pass. Note: Netherlands Plus Euro Domino which covered rail, bus and other public transport has been withdrawn. 3 - Scanrail Pass Eligibility - Anyone, there are no residency requirements. For Youth (under 26 years old on first date of validity) and Senior rates (60 years and over) proof of age required. The Scanrail Pass offers unlimited rail travel on the national railways of Denmark (DSB), Norway (NSB), Sweden (SJ) and Finland (VJ) plus ferries operated by Danish Railways (DSB) plus train ferries from Helsingør to Helsingborg, Rødby to Puttgarden (Germany), Trelleborg to Sassnitz (Germany). The usual reservation fees are payable for overnight sleeping accomodation on train services plus seat reservation charges which are compulsory on many services in Scandinavia. In addition supplements for X2000 (SJ), ICE (NSB), IC3 (DSB), Pendelino S220 (VJ), IC (VR) and EP (VR) serices are also payable. 1st class pass holders may travel in 2nd class on NSB ICE and sleeperette trains without payment of supplement (seat reservation fee payable). In addition 1st class pass holders may travel in ICE (NSB) "Business" catagory without payment of supplement. A supplement of approximately NOK 50 is payable on the line from Myrdal to Flåm (Norway). For overnight journeys commencing after 1900, the pass need only be dated for the following days date. In addition a 50% discount is availible on a wide range of bus and ferry tickets within Scandinavia including Silja Line services between Stockholm and Turku/Helsinki. Note cabin accomodation may be required and in certain cases has to be paid for at the full rate. Additionally, certain ferry companies offer either a 20% or 25% discount on some routes. The pass offers a 50% discount on the privately owned Innlandsbanen in Sweden. Discounts of up to 50% are offered in the chain of hotels run by Scanclass and TOP International as well as Youth Hostels (in conjunction with Hostelling International Card and various mountain stations in Sweden. Prices - Validity Adult Senior(60+) Child(4-11) Youth(12-25) 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 5 days in 15 160 132 142 117 80 66 120 99 10 days in month 220 180 196 160 110 90 165 135 21 days consec. 264 198 235 176 132 99 198 149 Note rates remain the same as 1997 but may change. Note the one month consecutive pass previously on sale has been withdrawn. 4 - German Regional Pass These passes were withdrawn from sale from 1 January 1998. 5 - Rail Europ Senior (RES) Card Price 5.00 Eligibilty - Any British resident aged over 60 years who has a national Senior Citizens Railcard for Great Britain. The RES has a maximum validity of one year but may not exceed the expiry date of the holders national railcard. Both cards must be presented at the time of purchasing international rail tickets and also during any ticket control. The RES card offers a 30% reduction on the full 1st and 2nd class single and return fares over at least one country border, it does not offer a reduction on a ticket wholly within one country. The following countries national railways participate in the RES scheme: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia. In addition 30% reductions are offered (as part of a through international journey) on certain private railways in Austria, France and Switzerland. Also discounts are offered on many international ferry routes so long as they form part of a through rail and sea journey. Discounts are not offered on Train Hotel services, AVE and Talgo 200 services within Spain even if part of a through international journey. With respect to Eurostar fares, a 2nd Class Senior Return fare is marketed but does not require an RES card. There are no Senior 1st Class fares or 2nd Class single fares with or with out an RES card. For Thalys services, again no RES card is required for the purchase of Senior fares. The normal fast train supplementary charges are still payable in full as are reservation charges for seats and sleeping berths on trains. Note Senior Railcards which offer upto 50% reduction in France are sold through Rail Europe in the UK. 6 - Eurostar Pass Holder Fares InterRail Pass holders as well as EuroDomino Pass holders for France can benefit from reduced fares between London Waterloo or Ashford to Calais-Fréthun, Lille, Brussels and Paris on Eurostar From London/Ashford to: 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. 1st Cl. 1st Cl. Single Return Single Return Calais-Fréthun/Lille Europe 37.00 65.00 73.00 139.00 Bruxelles-Midi 37.50 75.00 N/A N/A Paris Nord 45.00 85.00 89.00 159.00 Eurostar fares subject to alteration. Other promotional fares may be cheaper. Subject to availability, tickets are exchangeable and 50% refundable before departure, no refund or exchange after departure. Travel must be made within overall validity of the pass. 1st Class fares only available for 1st Class EuroDomino Passes for France and only to destinations in France. *************************************************** These notes were compiled by Phil Richards (101471,731), a Travel Consultant for Rail Europe at the International Rail Centre, Victoria Station, London. I would be pleased to answer any queries regarding the above passes or comments on this file provided a message is posted to me via one on an applicable message board in one the following CompuServe Forums: TrainNet Forum (GO TRAINNET) Travel Forum (GO TRAVSIG) UK Travel Forum (GO UKTF) European Forum (GO EURFORUM) UK Forum (GO UKFORUM) Travel Professional Forum (GO TRAVPRO) - Please post a message in a public section A specific request - please not to send me personal e-mail for straight forward information on Passes or rail travel within Europe. Forums provide the ideal opportunity for far more people to both benefit from and contribute to the information exchanged. In my absence away from the country (often up to 10 days at a time) my e-mail is not answered but other forum visitors may be able to help in my absence via message boards. Please note I am not able to handle any bookings or travel plans by e-mail. Thanks. To book: By telephone: Rail Europe on 0990 300003 In person at: Rail Shop, 179, Piccadilly, London, W1 International Rail Centre, Victoria Station, London, SW1 or at selected travel agents and main stations. Timetable Information, Maps and Guide Books to Plan Your Journey On-line timetables for most of Europe can be found on the German Rail Internet site (English available): http://www.bahn.de Alternatively in published format, Thomas Cooks European Timetable, published monthly is probably the most comprehensive timetable to cover most travellers needs. Further details from http://www.thomascooks.co.uk This file was last updated and uploaded to various CSi Forum Libraries on: 31 March 1998. Phil Richards.