03 July 07
European Rail Operators Form Alliance
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SEVEN European high-speed train
operators have launched a scheme to offer improved travel across
international borders in Western Europe. Eurostar UK, Deutsche Bahn,
SNCF, SNCB, NS Hispeed, ÖBB, SBB and subsidiaries Thalys, Lyria and
Alleo will form Railteam with the remit of offering “easy, faster,
seamless journeys”.
As well as introducing multi-lingual
information onboard trains and in stations, Railteam information points
will be installed in Brussels, Cologne, Lille, Frankfurt and Stuttgart,
and at other major stations in London, Strasbourg, Amsterdam and Paris
in the coming months.
The partnership also allows passengers
who miss train connections due to late running services to board the
next train, regardless of the ticket type they have. The changes
coincide with growing UK demand for international rail travel to
destinations beyond Paris and Brussels.
In the first quarter of 2007, Eurostar
says it saw 39% growth in “connecting” ticket sales – combining
travel on Eurostar and the French TGV service – to destinations such
as Nice, Marseilles and Avignon.
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