Eurail To Travel Agents: Try It, You’ll Like It

Before travel agents sell rail travel, Clarissa Mattos, Eurail marketing manager for the Americas & Pacific, recommends they do a test drive themselves. “Europe has more of a rail culture so people are more fluent with the ease of traveling by rail. So I always recommend travel agents give it a try, too,” she said. 

To do so, agents should contact Eurail’s U.S.-based general sales agent, Rail Europe (RE) to qualify for a 75% discount on passes they can use on the Continent. Half of RE’s sales originate with travel agents.

To entice more travel agents to the Eurail fold, New York-based RE regularly offers a variety of other incentives, too, including gift cards and monetary rewards. Agents can also opt to add service fees on their own terms to the cost of any ticket (100% payable to the agency).

RE’s sales team also offers in-agency presentations and webinars throughout the year. Visit RE’s agent portal for both pre-recorded and bi-weekly live training courses, called Europe on TRAC (travel rail agent course), where agents can become certified as a Europe Rail Expert, a France Rail Expert or a Swiss Rail Expert.

Travel surveys show that more than 35% of Eurail Pass travelers wish to discover as much of Europe as possible and choose the Select Pass, covering travel to three to five bordering countries, while 20% favor the classic Eurail Global Pass. A whopping 45% select the One Country Pass and Regional Pass, reflecting the market trend of travelers favoring shorter trips to fewer destinations.

“Today’s travelers are looking for authentic experiences, and rail answers that call by connecting people, places and cultures. Traveling by rail is not just a mode of transportation, it is a part of an overall European experience, especially high-speed rail, is something that does not exist in North America,” said RE spokesperson Melanie Albaric.

Eurail only just received the February sales figures, so it is too soon to provide an analysis of how sales are going this year, but January sales showed a slight uptick.

Once associated with students and backpackers, rail has stepped up its image, its service and its rates in some quarters. Says Albaric, “Between the yield-managed pricing and the various promotions we offer year round, we actually offer very competitive prices when it comes to rail travel.” She suggests also checking RE’s deals page.

Eurail Passes allow travelers to explore Europe at their own pace, hopping on and off trains as they go. Making new plans in advance or along the way is also easy with the Eurail Rail Planner App. 

The newly launched free Rail Planner App e-reservation function lets customers book, pay and receive seat reservation through their smartphone. Due to extensive demand, the Italian high-speed Le Frecce trains and cross-border routes within Italy can require a seat reservation. 

Earlier this year, Eurail added Eurostar, the high-speed passenger rail service linking the U.K. with mainland Europe, to its membership group for seamless and convenient city-center to city-center service that vies with air travel. Additionally, Eurostar provides a few amenities, such as a baggage allowance with no weight restrictions, free Wi-Fi and more than 300 hours of onboard entertainment on the new e320 trains.

Eurail Global and applicable Select and One Country Pass holders can secure Eurostar Pass holder fares from €30 (US$32) one way in Standard class or €38 (US$40) in Standard Premier with their Eurail Pass, making it easier to incorporate a high-speed journey under the Channel into their rail journey. 

Budget-friendly options include the permanent extension of the Youth fare age cap from 25 to 27 years, offering up to 35% off the standard first class adult fare, as well as the children travel for free program, the Extra Days Promotion offers a savings of up to 25%. In an inclusive move to appeal to Millennials, the Youth Pass has edged up from 26 to 28 years old. Additionally many of the rail carriers offer “early bird” fares.

As part of Eurail’s partnership with Disneyland Paris, Eurail Pass holders receive a €20 discount on pre-booked Disneyland Paris ticket. that includes 1-Day Tickets to Disneyland Park or Walt Disney Studios Park, or the 1-Day 2-Parks ticket.

The rail systems that crisscross the European Continent was called the Unifier of Europe after World War II. By 1959, the Eurailpass was invented and appealed to America’s first generation of backpackers creating a mystique among Baby Boomers, many of whom continue to travel by rail.

Improvements to the high-speed rail network are mirrored this year in local train fleets, especially in France (TVG Oceane), and on the popular scenic rail lines in Switzerland.

In Switzerland, the new Gotthard Panorama Express (Lugano – Lucerne) that took 17 years to complete, takes travelers from southern city Lugano through the heart of the country – and the Gotthard tunnel – north through the Alps to Flüelen, where the journey continues northwest on steamboat across Lake Lucerne to the city of Lucerne. On this route, the Swiss Federal Railways connects the cosmopolitan cities of Zurich, Switzerland and Milan, Italy in 3.5 hours.

France will also be seeing additional routes this year in northwest Brittany, reducing the time between Paris and Rennes to one hour and 25 minutes; The Tours-Bordeaux route is scheduled for completion in mid-2017 will reduce the trip between Paris and Bordeaux from three to two hours.

The two “magical cities” of Berlin and Munich will be linked, shortening the journey from north to south of Germany to under four hours, compared to the more than six it has taken up to now.

A new northern Spain Hi-speed rail line will soon open making it possible to travel from Madrid to Asturias, where clients can explore the cities of Oviedo, Gijón and their surroundings.

Owned by more than 35 railway and shipping companies the Eurail Group has partnerships with hotels, transport companies, ferries and attractions to benefit Eurail Pass holders. Visit the Eurail website. Rail Europe works with all the major players in the industry as well.

Agents can book for their clients via the agent website or connect with travel experts at RE’s customer care center by phone, or live chat on the website.