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BETS--Putting People on the Right Track Since 1978!
800-441-9413; 800-441-2387; in KS & MO, 877-441-2103
New in 2009
- Eurailpass
prices now change due to fluctuations in the dollar to euro exchange rate, and as the dollar has been volatile recently, there
have been price changes both up and down over the past year. But once you buy your railpass, your price is
guaranteed, and you have up to six months to start using it.
- In 2009 the Czech Republic
comes aboard increasing to 21 the number of countries valid with the Eurail Global Pass. Slovenia and Croatia were
added in 2008. For a complete list, click here: Eurail Global Pass. And in 2009, the Czech Republic can also be
added to any Eurail Select Pass.
- 2009
is the 50th birthday of the Eurailpass. Although no details are yet available, Eurail plans several special deals for
their golden anniversary--stay tuned.
- The only new pass in 2009 is the Bulgaria Flexipass; however, the Holland Flexipass will be discontinued.
- Wi-fi internet access is seldom available on European trains, but Thalys, operating
train service between Paris, Brussels, Cologne and Amsterdam, has announced that all trains have been outfitted with wi-fi
internet. The service is free for 1st-class passengers, but 2nd-class travelers will have to pay €6.50 ($9)/hr or €13
($18) for the whole journey.
- The European high-speed rail system continues to expand. In mid-2009 (actual start date still to be determined),
the high-speed line from Paris to Brussels will be extended to Amsterdam, slashing travel times by one hour
(Paris-Amsterdam: 3 hrs; Brussels-Amsterdam: 1 hr 44 mins). Paris also has high-speed links to Cologne (3 hrs 50
mins), Frankfurt (4 hrs), Zurich (4 hrs), London (2 hrs 20 mins), Nice (5 hrs 30 mins), Lyon (2 hrs) and Strasbourg (2 hrs
20 mins). As these times are all city center to city center with no transfers, they compare favorably with overall flight
times when considering the time, hassle and expense of going to and from the airports.
- On the Milan-Florence-Rome-Naples route, rail service over the new high-speed section between Milan
and Bologna started in December 2008, reducing travel times by 45 minutes over the line. (New travel times from Milan:
Bologna, 1 hr 05 mins; Florence, 2 hrs 09 mins; Rome, 3 hrs 30 mins; Naples, 5 hrs 30 mins.) When the last high-speed section,
between Bologna and Florence, is opened in October 2009, another 15 minutes will be shaved off of all travel times.
- Spain is also building an ambitious high-speed system with Madrid as a hub. Many
sections are already in operation, with high-speed links connecting Madrid to Barcelona (2 hrs 45 mins), Seville (2 hrs
30 mins), Cordoba (1 hr 42 mins), Malaga (2 hrs 40 mins), Toledo (30 mins) and Segovia (30 mins).
- Since late 2007, smoking has not been allowed on European trains.
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