Rail
SECTION 2: EUROPEAN RAIL SERVICES Eurostar (see above) has given a major boost to UK-Europe rail travel since services to Paris and Brussels started in 1994. Lille has become a major interchange point for onward services to other parts of France, while Brussels offers easy connections to a high-speed network that embraces Holland and Germany. Few European railways maintain a presence in the UK, although the tourist offices of their countries can usually supply brochures and timetables. Many agents perceive Continental rail travel beyond Eurostar as being difficult to book, which is why most of them book through specialist agencies, including members of the Association of European Rail Agents.
aera.co.uk
France, Belgium, Holland and Germany The Thalys high-speed train carries passengers across Germany, Belgium, France and Holland. Every day, 25 Thalys trains run between Paris and Brussels in 1hr 22mins. Amsterdam and Cologne are both around 3hr 15mins from Paris and 1hr 50mins from Brussels.
thalys.com French Railways has always been the most proactive continental company in the UK and having acquired the outbound business of British Rail International some years ago, it operates as Rail Europe with a brief to sell rail travel throughout Europe and not just France. Products include Eurostar, the French TGV network, Motorail services, ‘snow trains’ to ski resorts and a range of rail passes. These include the InterRail Global Pass (under-26, adult and senior versions) for travel within and between 30 European countries and One Country passes. Voyages-sncf Travel Centre, 193 Piccadilly, London W1J 9EU. T: 0844 848 5848
uk.voyages-sncf.com/en German Rail provides a wide range of information, rail ticket bookings and rail passes for the German and European network. International Rail Ltd, c/o STA Travel, 52 Grosvenor Gardens, Victoria, London SW1W 0AG. T: 0871 880 8066. F: 0871 880 8065. E:
sales@bahn.co.uk bahn.co.uk International Rail offers tickets throughout Europe and worldwide, with through bookings available to Belgium and Holland. Contact International Rail, PO Box 153, Alresford, Hants SO24 4AQ. T: 0871 231 0790. F: 0871 231 0791. E:
sales@internationalrail.com internationalrail.com
Switzerland Apart from the national rail network, there are many tourist mountain lines; passes are available combining rail travel with local buses and lake steamers. Switzerland Travel Centre, 30 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9ED. T: 020 7420 4934.
stc.co.uk
Austria & Italy The Bergland Express ski train from Brussels on Friday nights to ski resorts including Kitzbuhel, Innsbruck, Zell am See and the Italian Dolomites can be booked through European Rail, Unit 25, Tileyard Studios, Tileyard Road, London N7 9AH. T: 020 7619 1083. F: 020 7700 2164. E:
sales@europeanrail.com etrains4u.com
Tour operators ABTA tour operators handling rail bookings include Intourist UK (Trans-Siberian). T: 0844 875 4026. F: 020 7603 5876.
into-russia.co.uk
countrybycountry.com ABTA CountryByCountry Guide 2016 39
Luxury trains Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) offers year-round departures from London to Paris and Venice, but with a range of extra destinations including Budapest, Prague, Istanbul, Vienna and Rome. It also operates the Eastern & Oriental Express in Asia and the British Pullman, Northern Belle and Royal Scotsman in the UK. T: 0845 077 2222.
belmond.com reservations.uk@
belmond.com
SECTION 3: WORLDWIDE RAIL JOURNEYS Scenic rail journeys are enjoying a renaissance worldwide and are strongly featured by tour operators. Among them are Rail Australia T: 01904 527120; via Rail in Canada, represented by 1st Class Holidays T: 0845 644 3939; and Rovos Rail,
rovos.com, and the Ethos Marketing/Blue Train T: 01403 243619 in South Africa.
North America The US: Grand Canyon Rail Tour from Williams, Arizona. The Capitol Limited, from Washington to Chicago. The Coast Starlight, from Los Angeles to Seattle. The California Zephyr, from Chicago to San Francisco. Canada: The Rocky Mountaineer, from Vancouver to Kamloops, Jasper, Whistler, Banff and Calgary. International Rail (see above for contact details) sells rail tickets for the US and Canada.
Australasia The Ghan operates from Adelaide to Alice Springs and Darwin. The Indian Pacific operates from Perth to Adelaide and Sydney. The Overland operates from Adelaide to Melbourne. The Southern Spirit operates from Brisbane to Adelaide via Melbourne. International Rail (see above for contact details) sells rail tickets within Australia and New Zealand.
Africa Rovos Rail and the Blue Train operate between Pretoria and Cape Town. Rovos Rail also serves Durban, Victoria Falls, Dar Es Salaam, Swakopmund and George.
India The Palace on Wheels operates from Delhi to Agra and Jaipur. The Indian Maharaja operates from Delhi to Mumbai. The Golden Chariot operates from Bangalore to Goa. The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels operates from Delhi around the Golden Triangle.
Asia The Eastern & Oriental Express operates from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Chiang Mai.
Mexico The Copper Canyon operates from Los Mochis to Chihuahua.
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