Train Travel

Tour Europe by rail on one ticket.

By purchasing an Inter-Rail pass you get the freedom to travel through Europe at your own pace, and follow your own itinerary.

Travelling by train ensures that you view all areas of the countries, you see the good and the bad. You meet a wide variety of people from different countries and cultures. This type of travel allows you to discover the real country and its people.

Before travelling it is a good idea to look at what is on offer and which routes you want to explore. One essential tool you will need for the trip is The Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable, cost £13.99.

For your information: Tickets

There are three types of Inter-Rail tickets:

A one-zone pass costs £215 for over 26's, £145 for under-26's and £108 for under 12's. This pass is valid for 16 days.

A two-zone pass costs £295 for over 26's, £205 for under-26's and £148 for under 12's. This pass is valid for 22 days.

A global or all-zone pass costs £405 for over 26's, £285 for under- 26's and £203 for under 12's. This pass is valid for one month.

There are eight zones which cover 30 countries. For more information contact www.interrailnet.com

What the ticket covers:

With an Inter-Rail ticket you are entitled to travel second class in the zones you have chosen. All main national networks recognise the pass although some private railways do not take part in the scheme

The ticket DOES NOT cover the small supplement for seat reservations and high-speed trains. If you want a couchette or sleeper this will also cost a little extra.

You can change your plans if you want to as the tickets are flexible.

Where you can purchase them:

Rail Europe sells the full range of Inter-Rail tickets. For more details contact them by telephone: 0870 584 8848 or link to www.raileurope.co.uk

Rail Choice. Contact on 0870 165 7300 or link to www.railchoice.co.uk

Rail Pass Direct . Contact on 0870 751 5021 or link to www.railpassdirect.co.uk

Sample route:England to Italy

Begin your journey in England and travel by Eurostar to Paris. Then choose whether to take a leisurely trip through France visiting the towns and cities you want to discover. Alternatively, you can take the faster route and travel by TGV to Italy, this option can be completed in a day.

You can book overnight accomodation before you travel or use your mobile to book into hotels etc as you travel, this will allow you more freedom and you do not have to worry about staying with your original plans.

One of the benefits of train travel is that the train delivers you into the heart of the town or city. This means you can begin exploring immediately.

The TGV drops you at Stazione Centrale in Milan. You can book into a hotel or find a pavement cafe in Via Brera where you decide what you want to discover next. Do you want to look at buildings or people watch?

From Milan you could travel to Verona. What if you have had enough of Italy and would like to venture somewhere else, well with the Inter-Rail pas you can.

To see a culture so different to Italy, travel to Austria where even the trains are different. The station at Innsbruck is calm, clean and modern. The information desk is well organised and they give you computer print outs of any information you require.

To view the mountains take the train, OEC669, from Innsbruck to Strainach-Irdning. This is picture postcard Austria, where the train climbs up and down mountains and you pass wooden chalets set in the meadows.

Travel through Austria is more relaxing than France and Italy and you may decide to spend time discovering the tiny branch lines that will take you to lakeside villages, such as Hallstatt.

As you can see you can go where you like, when you like and discover parts of Europe you have only ever heard of. All this for the price of one Inter-Rail ticket.

Happy travelling!

Buy Your Tickets Here