15. European Premier Trains
    The Premier Trains are all ultra-modern and comfortable, high-speed trains.  They are fitted out with bars, restaurants, public phones and reclining seats in 1^st Class.  The trains are:
    1. Alaris – linking Madrid with Valencia in 3 ½ hours;
        
    2. Artesia – the French-Italian train linking Paris and Milan in just under 5 hours;
        
    3. AVE – linking Madrid and Seville in 2 ½ hours;
        
    4. Cisalpino – links Zurich and Milan in under 4 hours and serving Southern Germany, Switzerland and Southern Italy;
        
    5. Euromed – links Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante in 3 hours;
        
    6. Eurostar – links London and Brussels in 2 2/3 hours, London and Paris in 3 hours;
        
    7. ES – links Rome with Florence in 1 ½ hours and offers other city combinations in Italy;
        
    8. ICE – links all major German cities and parts of Austria and Switzerland;
        
    9. TGV – links over 150 French, Belgium and Swiss cities at speeds up to 320 mph;
        
    10. Talgo 200 – links Madrid with Malaga and Cadiz in 5 hours or less;
         
    11. Thalys – links Paris with Brussels, Cologne, Dusseldorf and Amsterdam.

16. Eurail Passes
    We have compiled information about the various versions of the Eurail passes [Eurail is the marketing agency created by a number of European railroads] and passes directly issued by the various government railroads.  Eurorail is a nickname for Eurail;
     
    1. Reading the Pass
        
    2. Types of Passes
       The types of Eurail Passes are:  1^st Class, 2^nd Class, Youth versions of Consecutive-day, Flexi and Saver Passes – these 3 types of passes are subcategorized as passes for travel throughout Europe, Single Country passes, Adjoining Country passes and Select passes.  There are also Senior passes [Britain and France] and Rail & Drive passes:
        

                                                              i.      First and Second Class
Adults older than 26 years must purchase 1st Class Rail passes whereas those 26 years old, and younger, can buy either 1^st Class passes or 2^nd Class passes.  When traveling with your children, you may find it both more convenient and economical to put yourself and your children on the same 1^st Class Saverpass [1^st Class passes for children 4-11 cost 50% of the 1^st Class adult pass – kids under 4 travel free].  This will cost the same as one 1^st Class adult pass and one 2^nd Class Youth pass and will allow all of you to sit together in 1^st Class;
 

                                                             ii.      European Passes
The European Eurail pass is designed for unlimited travel throughout the 17 countries and regions [actually 22 countries in all] listed in the next topic.

Most single-country and regional passes are available in 1^st Class and 2^nd Class versions, no matter the traveler’s age.  Such passes are available for the following countries and regions:  Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Eastern Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scandinavia, Spain and Switzerland;
 

                                                           iii.      Adjoining Two Country Passes
The following two country passes are available:  France & Italy, France & Spain, France & Switzerland, Germany & Denmark, Germany & Benelux, Greece & Italy and Austria & Czech Republic;
 

                                                          iv.      Select Passes
This pass is designed for touring three, four or five neighboring countries;
 

                                                            v.      Consecutive-day Passes
These passes provide unlimited train travel for the period the pass is valid.  You can ride the rails all day and night, switching trains as often as you wish.  Having a one-month pass means that you will be able to travel as few as 28 days and up to 31 days during the month.  A 15-day pass is for exactly 15 days;
 

                                                          vi.      Flexi Passes
If you like to stop off, for a few days, to explore some cities in depth, you may find the Flexipass more to your liking.  Buying a 10-day Flexipass means that you will have 10 days, during a 2-month period, which you will be able to travel on that pass.  Again, during each day of travel you can ride the trains all day long, if you wish, changing trains as often as you please.  The travel day is measured from midnight to midnight.  However, if you begin an over-night train or boat ride on one day and it finishes the next day, you will have used only one day of travel;
 

                                                         vii.      Saver Passes
A Saverpass is a single pass covering two or more individuals.  The covered party’s names are printed on it.  All parties must order the pass together and validate it together.  However, some can travel while others sightsee in a town.  But, the parties to the pass cannot travel on two trains at the same time using the same pass; 
 

                                                       viii.      Senior Passes
These are for those 60 years and older and are usually for 1^st Class only;
 

                                                           ix.      Youth Passes
To be eligible to buy a Youthpass, you must be under 26 years of age on the day you validate the pass;
 

                                                            x.      Rail & Drive Passes
If you have a U.S. driver’s license and a major credit card, you can purchase a Rail & Drive pass [provided you meet the age requirements of Avis [23 years old] or Hertz [25 years old].  This pass will entitle you to a certain number of days of train travel together with a specified number of car rental.  Before purchasing such a pass, call Avis [800-331-1084] or Hertz [800-654-3001] to verify that the kind of car you want will be available where and you want it and that you will be able to drop it off where you wish.

The car rental days, under these plans, provide you with unlimited mileage for a 24 hours period.  Taxes and the minimal required insurance is also included.  However, check with your credit card company to see if they cover you for the insurance when a car is rented using their credit card.

When checking on the car prices, remember that the prices are stated on a per person basis, in terms of the number of people traveling on the Rail & Drive pass.  You will probably be charged extra if more than one specified person does any of the driving;
 

3. How the Various Eurail Passes Work

                                                              i.      The rail pass, and additional travel days, must be purchased prior to leaving North America;
 

                                                             ii.      The passes are only available to non-residents of Europe, Algeria, Morocco, the Russian Federation Tunisia and Turkey;
 

                                                           iii.      The rail passes come in a ticket jacket, similar to those used by airlines;
 

                                                          iv.      The passes must be validated on the first day they are used, at the ticket window, at the railroad station, before boarding a train.  You must begin your first trip, using the pass, within six months of its purchase.  You will have to present your passport as proof of identity.  The railroad official, validating the pass, will enter the first and last date of the travel period.  Do not write on the pass, or fill in any of the blanks; that will invalidate the pass.  This is the only time you will have to check at a station ticket window.  You do not have to obtain tickets for the duration of your pass – no line-ups and no hassle.  However, you will have to make reservations on certain trains [such as the TGVs] and for couchettes;
 

                                                            v.      Each day, before boarding any eligible transportation, fill in the date, in inerasable ink;
 

                                                          vi.      You can board most eligible transportation with the Pass.  However, only a reservation will guarantee you a seat.  Reservations are mandatory for AVE, Cisalpino, ES, TGV and Thalys trains and many EuroCity and InterCity trains and for all sleepers and couchettes.  Reservations are subject to availability and to additional fees;
 

                                                         vii.      If you are using a Flexipass, the conductor will have to either sign it, or punch a hole in it, at the bottom to keep track of the number of days the Flexipass has been used;
 

                                                       viii.      Always keep your passport with you – the conductor may wish to see it in order to verify your identity;
 

                                                           ix.      A supplement is required for travel on such high-speed trains as the AVE [Spain], ES [Italy], Eurostar and Thalys;
 

                                                            x.      Rental cars should be reserved, directly with the car rental company, at least 7 days before your departure.  Conditions of rental should be confirmed.  For Avis, you can call 1-800-331-1084; for Hertz, the number is 1-800-654-3001;
 

                                                           xi.      The prices we show, for Rail Passes, may be inexact on occasion.  When you click to buy a Pass, the price shown will be exact. 

4. Rail Pass Bonuses
   In addition to train travel, many of the passes provide free and discounted bonus [ferries, river boats, Swiss lake boats, various buses and some special trains and special railroads] within the country or countries covered by the pass.  They are itemized on the map that accompanies each pass;

© Copyright 1999 - 2008 by Sharon Atchley.  All rights reserved.  Updated:  01/09/2008