Rail Europe Offers Thalys Special: 50% Discount on One-Way Thalys Tickets for Travel Between France-Belgium-Netherlands

White Plains, New York, January 24, 2008 – Rail Europe is currently offering 50% off the normal price for one-way full-fare tickets on all routes of the high-speed Thalys train connecting Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam. Tickets must be booked by March 2, 2008 for travel through March 20, 2008.

This special offer is for 1st or 2nd class full-fare tickets between all French, Belgian, and Dutch cities Thalys serves. The normal one-way full-fare ticket between Paris and Brussels costs from $234 US/CAD (1 st class) or $140 US/CAD (2 nd), compared to the promotional fare from $109 US/CAD (1 st) or $70 US/CAD (2 nd). Between Paris and Amsterdam the normal full-fare ticket costs from $291 US/CAD (1 st) or $179 US/CAD (2 nd); with this special promotion, that drops to $149 US/CAD (1 st) or $90 US/CAD (2 nd). While full-fare tickets are fully exchangeable and refundable, the special promotional fares are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. * [Note: this promotion is not valid for travel to/from Germany.]

Thalys to get faster in 2008

Thalys takes just 1 hour 22 minutes to go from downtown Paris to Brussels, most of the journey made at 186 mph. In 2008, all Thalys tracks will be high-speed and travel times Paris-Amsterdam (currently 4 hrs 11 min.) and Paris-Cologne (presently 3 hrs 50 min) will be cut to 3 hrs 9 min and 2 hrs 50 min, respectively. Up to 27 trains travel between Paris and Brussels in each direction daily, making the service convenient as well as fast.

The number of North Americans buying tickets on Thalys in 2007 increased 7% compared to 2006, reports Rail Europe, largest North American distributor of European rail products.

For more information or to book any of Rail Europe’s wide range of economical railpasses and point-to-point tickets on trains throughout Europe and the U.K., consult a travel agent or log on to Rail Europe’s web site, www.raileurope.com or call Rail Europe at 1-888-382-7245 (U.S.) or 1-800-361-7245 (Canada).

* Prices are subject to change; check www.raileurope.com for the latest prices.

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