Making European travel more affordable for those under 26

Eurail Global Pass Youth Prices in Canada reduced in 2005

White Plains, NY, January 13, 2005 - To entice young Canadian travelers to continue exploring Europe by rail, the ever-popular Eurail Youth Passes for those under 26 are 7-12% less expensive in 2005 than they were in 2004, it was announced today by Rail Europe, leading North American distributor of European rail products. The price drop for Youth passes was greater in Canada than in the US (3-8% decrease) due to the relative strength of the Canadian dollar.

While 2005 prices for railpasses for adults 26 or over either remained at 2004 levels or showed a slight decrease (1-4%), depending on the pass, prices were dropped for all validities of the 17-country Eurail Global Pass Youth (consecutive day), 17-country Eurail Global Pass Youth Flexi (rail travel days may be non-consecutive), Eurail Select Pass Youth for three, four or five connected countries. All these passes are for travel in second class and may be purchased for a varying number of rail travel days (validities) from five days to three months.

The biggest price reductions of 11-12% were for 17-country* Eurail Global Passes for youth. These start at $501 CAD for a 15 consecutive day pass (in 2004, $568 CAD) or $591 CAD for a Eurail Global Pass Youth Flexi giving 10 days of rail travel within a 2-month period (in 2004, $669.)

Prices for the newer Eurail Select Pass Youth, for which the purchaser chooses 3, 4 or 5 countries** connected by rail or ferry, were cut an average of 7%. A three-country Eurail Select Pass Youth giving five days of rail travel within a 2-month period costs $316 CAD in 2005, compared to $342 CAD in 2004. The same pass for 4 countries costs $353 CAD (compared to $383 CAD in 2004) and one for 5 countries goes for $388 CAD (vs $421 CAD in 2004.)

“We’re pleased to offer these cost savings to young travelers,” said Fabrice Morel, President of Rail Europe Group. “Once people try Europe’s trains, often on summer vacation or a year or semester abroad, they keep coming back to ride the trains again and again. ”

For more information or to book a Eurail Global Pass Youth or any European rail product, contact a travel agent or Rail Europe at 1-800-361-7245 or log on to www.raileurope.ca.

# # #

Notes:

* Eurail Global Pass’ 17 countries include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

**Eurail Select Pass - in addition to the 17 countries above, purchasers may also choose from Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia/ Croatia (counted as one), Serbia, Montenegro.

Photos: members of the press may download high-res photos of Eurostar and other European trains at www.raileurope.com/presspix