thetrainline.com announces new international rail proposition

Leading online train ticket retailer thetrainline.com today announces a brand new international rail proposition, in partnership with the leading expert in European train travel, Rail Europe.

The new offering accessible from thetrainline.com/eurostar/ means customers can now find train times and book train tickets for travel between stations in Europe, including SNCF’s TGV services, Deutsche Bahn’s ICE, Thalys and overnight services. As part of this partnership, customers will also be able to purchase a selection of European rail passes including the InterRail pass, which offers the freedom to explore up to 29 European countries from as little as £12 per day*.

Amongst other options, customers making their way to the ski slopes of Europe will be offered the opportunity to book train tickets to destinations in hundreds of resorts across France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Andorra.

The reciprocal partnership also means Rail Europe will direct customers back to thetrainline.com to book tickets for UK rail journeys.

Omid Golshan, Head of Partnerships at thetrainline.com said, “The new addition to our international rail offer means customers can now book tickets for thousands of destinations across Europe.

“At thetrainline.com we believe taking the train is the most convenient, cost efficient and carbon friendly way to travel – and now the scope of what customers can book with us online is even greater, meaning we can help them to make even more savings on their train travel.”

As with thetrainline.com’s UK train tickets, the international offering will provide fares to suit all passengers, from adult tickets through to child, seniors and youths. Passengers can make significant savings by purchasing tickets online in advance, which can be either sent by post or collected on the day at self-service machines at selected train stations through Rail Europe’s convenient Ticket on Departure (TOD) service.

Stuart Alldis, Head of eCommerce at Rail Europe, said: “We are very pleased to announce our direct partnership with thetrainline.com, whereby its customers can now book European rail travel via a co-branded Rail Europe and thetrainline.com website.

“We are also delighted to now offer UK rail supplied by thetrainline.com to Rail Europe’s customers.”

Trains in Spain and Switzerland can be booked 60 days in advance and trains in France and most other countries can be booked 90 days in advance.

* InterRail passes can be purchased as either InterRail One Country pass, which offers travel in one of 27 participating countries, or InterRail Global pass, which allows travel in up to 29 European countries, with flexible or continuous travel options. Price based on the cheapest InterRail global pass per day (based on one youth ticket for one month, for travel from 1st August 2011)