Rail Europe says it sold more than $40 million worth of rail tickets to Australian travellers in the first half of this year. The incredible six-month result has cemented Australia’s position as the No.1 market for Rail Europe, which sells rail tickets and passes in more than 45 countries around the world.
Australia now accounts for a quarter of the company’s sales, which amounted to about $165 million from January to June.
The manager Australasia of Rail Europe, Richard Leonard, says Australian travellers are becoming more aware of the convenience and efficiency of European train services. ”Rail travel has been on a consistent and healthy rise in Australia over the past few years,” Leonard says. ”With new trains, new routes and improved services, we will be seeing more Aussies exploring Europe and travelling through tracks less travelled.”
Rail Europe claims to be the world’s biggest distributor of rail tickets and passes, with options for 22 Europeancountries and more than 11,000 routes. Its offerings include the popular Eurail and Swiss passes and Leonard says travellers can save up to 60 per cent by buying these a few months in advance.
This article is an excerpt from Jane E. Fraser’s weekly travel column in The Sun Herald, Sydney.
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