News on Travel - Rail News

Slovakia to Join the Eurail Global Pass in 2012

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:42:17 +0000

Eurail Group G.I.E. has announced that Slovakia will join the Eurail Global Pass on the 1st January, 2012.

The national railway of Slovakia will be included in the classic Eurail Global Pass offer, which permits unlimited rail travel throughout a range of validity periods for either continuous travel periods or flexible travel days in 23 countries. Discounts are offered to groups of two or more and to young people under the age of 26. Prices start from just 30 euros a day for a fifteen day Global Saver Pass.

"We are delighted ZSSK (the Slovakian railway) will give Eurail Global Pass holders access to their railway, expanding the passes range to 23 European countries," says Marketing Director, Ana Dias e Seixas.

Slovakia has evolved into a popular European tourist destination and was ranked second among the top adventurous destinations in the world by The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA); in the category of Developing Tourist Destinations, 2010*.

The Slovakian railway covers 3616 kilometers (2247 miles) and is connected with the pan-European railway network of the surrounding countries of Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic. Traveling with the Eurail Global Pass makes a rail journey through some of continental Europe's most undiscovered countries a tangible reality. Rail travel offers a relaxing, comfortable and convenient way to enjoy the diverse landscapes, cultures and European sights.

Bratislava is often called the 'Beauty of the Danube' and Slovakia has much to offer ranging from beautiful castles, views of the Tatras mountain range, vineyards, and popular spa & wellness centers. Europe's rail system is modern and reliable, and cross-border rail connections make traversing across the continent very accessible. The Eurail Global Pass represents 42% of the overall Eurail Pass sales (more than 70,000 travelers used this pass in 2010) and it continues to be a popular rail pass giving travelers endless opportunities to explore Europe by rail.

"With the inclusion of Slovakia into our product range, we hope that Eurail Passes continue to appeal to customers long into the future. It's vital that rail transportation is sustainable in the long term," concludes Marketing Director, Ana Dias e Seixas.

Eurostar Launches its First Pan-European Advertising Campaign

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:25:14 +0000

Eurostar, the high-speed passenger service linking London and mainland Europe is set to launch its first pan-European advertising campaign on the 1 October.

The new London 2012 focused advertisements will mark the first time that Eurostar has shown the same TV advertisement in the UK, France and Belgian.

The campaign, created by Paris-based agency Leg, will focus on the important role Eurostar will play in carrying thousands of Olympic fans from the continent to London to see the 2012 Games in action. The advertisement will introduce its new strapline 'Opening the Way' to illustrate the pioneering spirit Eurostar has demonstrated since its launch in 1994, as well as the important part Eurostar plays in bringing different cultures, places and people together.

British musician, Jarvis Cocker, the French film director, Michel Gondry, and the Belgian popstar, Arno Hintjens all appear in the ad sharing their creative ideas as the combination of talent brainstorms to try and co-create something magical.

Emma Harris, Sales and Marketing Director for Eurostar says: "This new advertising campaign represents a change of direction for Eurostar. In the past our brand has been positioned differently in our different markets, but going forward our brand personality will be consistent wherever our customers interact with us.

"Eurostar has always connected people, cultures and places and our new strapline 'Opening the Way' has been designed to underscore this. People now think nothing of shopping in Paris for the day or lunching in Lille as they see Europe as closer than ever before.

"The London 2012 is the perfect platform from which to launch this new positioning. Because of Eurostar, 80 million fans from across Europe have sustainable access the games and we expect a huge proportion of travellers from as far as Holland, Germany and Switzerland to be choosing high speed rail to get to London. Our role as an enabler to what will be an amazing merging of nationalities and cultures during the games perfectly reflects the meaning behind 'Opening the Way'."

Eurostar introduced a new visual identity earlier in the year marking the beginning of a new chapter for the business and its ambitions to expand its reach, carrying more passengers from Germany and the Netherlands as well as across the UK, regional France and Belgium. Deregulation of the European market for international rail travel heralds a period of innovation with new entrants offering competing services and greater choice for consumers.

Invensys Rail Commissions Malaysian Double Tracking

newsdesk@newsonnews.net (Newsdesk) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 09:00:00 +0000

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Invensys Rail has delivered the first critical phase of the Seremban to Gemas Double Tracking Project in time for planned commencement of the suburban passenger service to Sungai Gadut.

The project forms part of the Malaysian Government’s RM3.45 billion Seremban-Gemas double tracking and electrification project due for completion in December 2012. Phase I included modification and extension of Seremban station, a new station and interlocking at Sungai Gadut and a 10km block section between stations which includes the halt of Senawang.

Despite a significant flash flooding occurrence in January 2011, Invensys Rail teams from Bangalore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand rallied together with IRCON to commission the project on time.

Invensys Rail’s Regional Manager, Owen Clenick, commented “The dedication and tenacity of our international teams to deliver the project on time was second to none and shows the lengths that Invensys Rail will go to deliver on time for its customer”.

For more details, visit www.signalling-train-control.com

Invensys Rail, a division of the global technology company Invensys plc, employs over 4,000 people and is operational in over 30 countries around the world delivering state of the art railway control and communication solutions.

For more information on Invensys Rail's systems and capabilities visit www.invensysrail.com

Contacts

bcm public relations for Invensys Rail
Ralph Wagner
r.wagner@bcmpublicrelations.com
tel: +44 1306 882 288

Source: Invensys Rail

View this news release online at:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110712006576/en

ACP Rail International Adds Australian Rail Cards to World Rail Travel Options

kevin.coy@newsonnews.net (Kevin Coy) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 09:17:42 +0000

When one thinks about destinations that are renowned for being best traveled by rail, Europe, Britain and Japan likely come to mind... and now ACP Rail wants you to add Australia to that list, with the launch of 8 great Australia Rail Passes.

Some passes include travel aboard the infamous Ghan through the Outback, and other passes include travel aboard The Sunlander along Queensland's Coast; no matter what the route, travel is made easy with an Australia Rail Pass. There is surely a pass that best suits your itinerary so here's a quick overview of the pass selection, with prices starting as low as $99 USD:

- Ausrail Pass: covers travel aboard all participating rail companies in Australia.

- Queensland Explorer Pass: includes travel along Queensland's coast from Brisbane to Cairns.

- Rail Explorer Pass: travel aboard the Indian Pacific between Sydney and Perth, The Overland between Melbourne and Adelaide, and The Ghan between Adelaide and Darwin.

- Aus Reef and Outback Pass: travel along the coast from Brisbane to Cairns, as well as, travel aboard The Ghan, the Indian Pacific and The Overland.

- Aus Reef and Beach Pass: travel from Cairns to Melbourne and many stops in between.

- Trans Aus Pass: travel aboard The Ghan, the Indian Pacific and The Overland, as well as along the coast from Melbourne to Brisbane.

- Backtracker Rail Pass: travel from Melbourne, to Canberra, to Sydney to Brisbane and many stops in between, including connecting coach services.

- East Coast Discovery Pass: Select a route between two of these cities - Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns.

With so much to see in Australia, international visitors will find great value in a rail pass that can deliver them to all the points of interest, all while enjoying the stunning scenic views en route. Plus pass holders will enjoy unlimited train travel over a 3 or 6 month period, with the exception of the East Coast Discovery Pass which offers travel in one direction over a 6 month period.

How should one begin selecting their Australia Rail Pass? Visit www.acprail.com/rail-passes/australia to see a map which depicts all the routes included with each pass. Compare this to your itinerary or list of desired destinations and find the rail pass that covers it all. Not sure where to begin? First time visitors to Australia won't want to miss: Sydney for its beautiful harbour cityscape, Cairns for its access to the Great Barrier Reef, Alice Springs for the Outback experience, Brisbane for its surfers' paradise and the list goes on!

Get your Australia Rail Pass by calling ACP Rail's Call Center today at 1 866 938-RAIL (North America) or by visiting www.ACPRail.com.

ACP Rail provides consumers, travel agents and tour operators access to its attractive range of rail passes and train tickets which offer great value and flexibility for exploring exciting destinations by rail. In addition to being the exclusive global BritRail distributor, ACP Rail also offers these popular rail passes: the Japan Rail Pass, Eurail Pass, InterRail Pass, BritRail Pass, German Rail Pass, Ausrail Pass and many more.

Austria - An Increasingly Popular Choice Among Eurail Pass Travelers

kevin.coy@newsonnews.net (Kevin Coy) — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 13:07:12 +0000

If you were going to only visit one European country this year, what would it be? In a continent teeming with diversity, new statistics show that Austria, home of Mozart, Sigmund Freud and Maria Von Trapp, is gaining popularity among Eurail riders as a one-stop destination for arts, culture, and breathtaking beauty.

While traversing through multiple European countrysides and cityscapes will never go out of style, key travel trends for 2011 indicate that shorter jaunts to the continent are becoming more in vogue among international travelers.

Eurail Group G.I.E., in cooperation with their member railways, is catering to this current shift in consumer behavior by increasing their single country product offerings for those interested in shorter European getaways, making a quick trip to Spain, Denmark or the Benelux countries easier and more accessible.

The Eurail Italy Pass proved to be the most popular choice in 2010 with more than 64,000 passengers while Eurail's Spain Pass ranked second with more than 14,000. But 2011 may witness a rise in rail travel to Austria, which rounded out the top 3 most popular Eurail One Country Passes last year.

The Eurail Austria Pass offers the opportunity to travel through one of Europe's most diverse and breathtaking terrains in record time. You can now easily ski the Tyrolean Alps, tour Salzburg's majestic lake region (immortalized in the opening scenes of The Sound of Music), and stroll through Vienna's royal gardens all within the same trip. And with prices starting at approximately $27 per travel day (depending on options selected), this Austrian adventure can be more affordable than ever.

During 2010, Eurail Group witnessed a large number of Eurail Pass holders choosing to explore their selected destination with the One Country Pass. Eurail Group predicts that in 2011, more than 100,000 travelers will use this category of passes alone.

"Eurail offers the best way to experience the European continent, enabling pass holders to hop from city centre to city centre at their own leisure whilst absorbing the ever-changing landscapes. Passengers will surely discover the flexibility that only the Eurail Pass can provide by jumping on and off the trains with ease" states Ana Dias e Seixas, Eurail Group's Marketing Director. "Plus, it's the most economical and convenient way to discover Europe, thanks to the unlimited train travel available."

Sodrugestvo Acquires Leading Russian Railcar Operator

kevin.coy@newsonnews.net (Kevin Coy) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 23:39:47 +0000

Sodrugestvo Group has acquired Russia-based railcar operator Balt-Trans, the second largest operator of grain hoppers in the country.

Founded in 2009 by a group of private investors, Balt-Trans contributes 1,875 grain hoppers and 102 boxcars to the Group's logistics operations, already consisting of Trans-Agro, a railcar owner, operator and freight forwarder. Combined, the company now owns a total of 2,225 grain hoppers and 102 boxcars and leases 80 vegetal oil cars on a long-term basis. Sodrugestvo was the company's largest customer prior to its purchase. The Group has received all required regulatory approvals for the transaction.

"By combining Balt-Trans' holdings with our existing Trans-Agro operations, Sodrugestvo is now able to fully control its logistics chain inside Russia," said Stephane Frappat, CEO of Sodrugestvo Group. "This acquisition demonstrates our commitment to providing the best possible customer service to the agricultural markets in Russia, the company's most important and rapidly growing region."

Sodrugestvo Group, founded in 1994, is a rapidly growing agro-industrial company serving global markets. The company is vertically integrated with three business units - specialized infrastructure (including deep-water sea ports), logistics (including railcars and storage facilities) and processing facilities (for the production of proteins and oils from vegetal and animal commodities). In 2010, Sodrugestvo crushed more than 1.1 million tons of soybeans and rapeseed, making it a leading player in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe. The company is also expanding into commodities trading and direct origination capabilities.

Headquartered in Luxembourg, the company has 32 facilities located in nine countries including Russia, Denmark, Brazil, the United States and several Eastern European nations. With consolidated sales of $857 million in its fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, Sodrugestvo has enjoyed average annual growth of 15 percent or more for the last 10 years. Sodrugestvo employs 1,300 and is privately held.

Mashable Award for Eurail and InterRail Customer Support on Facebook

kevin.coy@newsonnews.net (Kevin Coy) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:50:05 +0000

Eurail.Com, the online sales channel for European rail passes, has won the Mashable Award for Best Social Media Customer Service. At the Mashable Awards Gala in Las Vegas the customer support on social media like Facebook and Twitter was rewarded with a Mashable Award, the 'Internet Oscar' for the best the web has to offer.

For more than fifty years the Eurail Pass has been the best way for overseas visitors to explore European countries by train. Eurail.Com started selling them online seven years ago and soon added the InterRail Pass for European travelers via Interrailnet.com. Three years ago the company started its social media involvement to interact with its customers.

Today over 50,000 travel fans joined Eurail.Com's social media presence on Facebook and Twitter. A dedicated team of travel professionals answers questions within a few hours in several languages.Eurail.Com Managing Director Paulien Pierik: "Facebook is a great platform to bring together travelers from all over the globe. It works even faster, more effective and much more personal than e-mail support. Our Eurail and InterRail Passes offer so many travel options that assistance in planning is often welcomed. Communities like Facebook and Twitter make sure travel knowledge and experiences can be shared." Sales Director Jeroen de Bruin adds: "Eurail.Com strives to make the difference by offering excellent service. The use of social media allows us to better understand our customers and offer better products."

Mashable.com is the top source for news in social and digital media, technology and web culture. Voters nominated five finalists and chose Eurail.Com as this year's winner. "Eurail.Com is lucky to have extremely dedicated service representatives. Our followers receive a personal reply, not a script. They talk to an actual human being who can give them anecdotes and tips from their own rail travel experiences," Social Media Manager Chantal Sukel of Eurail.Com says. "Social media makes our service better, and winning this prestigious Award motivates us to further enhance our service."

Transoil Receives Ba3 Credit Rating From Moody's

kevin.coy@newsonnews.net (Kevin Coy) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 17:14:06 +0000

Transoil is pleased to announce that the Company has received an initial credit rating from Moody's Investors Service. Having analyzed key financial and business parameters, Moody's has assigned Transoil a corporate rating of Ba3. The rating outlook is stable. A rating of Aa3.ru on the national scale was also assigned to the company.

Among the positive aspects of the company Moody's focuses on the strong market positions of Transoil as one of the leading transport operators of crude oil and petrochemicals, with long-term relationships with major clients and customers of the services, a modern fleet, low debt burden, conservative financial policies and an ability to generate positive cash flow. In the report Moody's stresses the fact that Transoil's flexible investment program can be fully financed from operating cash flow funds.

After analyzing the market of railway deliveries of crude oil and petrochemicals, Moody's forecasts strong demand for services in this sector.

Commenting on the announcement, Guennady Timtchenko, Chairman of Transoil's Board, said, "Getting an initial credit rating is an important stage in the strategic development of Transoil. We have made great progress in the increase of business from the start of the company's activity, and now Transoil is one of the leading players in the market of railway deliveries of crude oil and petrochemicals. The high corporate rating of Ba3 reflects the current market opportunities of the company and affords a positive forecast for the company's future development."

Transoil is the largest private company specializing in the transportation of oil and petrochemicals. The company's market share in this sector in Russia is some 26%. The average age of Transoil's rolling stock is about 10 years, and it includes 26,500 tanks and 36 locomotives to power the company's rolling stock.

A network of company representative offices and branches covers eleven regions in Russia. The company is focused on strategic routes, including export to China, Mongolia, Finland, the Baltic countries, CIS and Eastern Europe. Customers of Transoil include leading companies such as: Gazprom Neft, Rosneft, Surgutneftegas, Transneft, Vostokneftetrans, Transnefteproduct.

Eurail Global Pass Expands Travel Network

kevin.coy@newsonnews.net (Kevin Coy) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:08:08 +0000

Eurail will become more attractive to overseas travelers when Bulgaria opens its rails to Eurail Global Pass holders in 2011. This means that the Global Pass, hailed as the 'European Golden Ticket' for five decades, will offer pass holders unlimited access to the national railways of 22 European countries.

The Eurail Group G.I.E. is dedicated to the marketing and management of the Eurail Pass product range and the Group strives toward making the various Eurail Pass offers excellent value for money while working on behalf of the participating railways. "We are delighted that BDZ, the Bulgarian State Railways has decided to join the Eurail Global Pass offer" comments Ana Dias e Seixas, Marketing Director of the Eurail Group G.I.E. "We are confident that this additional country will greatly benefit our Global Pass holders who wish to explore the European continent by train."

Based on the predictions published in the Bulgaria Tourism Report for 2010, the renowned 'Country of Roses' attracts millions of overseas travelers each year. In April, 2009, the Bulgarian government approved the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of Tourism from 2009-2013. This initiative aims to 'enhance the competitiveness of the tourism sector through effective use of natural and anthropogenic resources'. The popularity of Bulgaria and its stunning coastline has seen a steady increase following the fall of communism and the opening of borders between neighboring countries. Eurail Group G.I.E. wishes to respond to the allure of Eastern Europe by expanding its Global Pass range in an attempt to encourage environmentally responsible and affordable tourism.

Eurail Global and Eurail Select Passes remain the core products for the Eurail Group and the sales of the Eurail Select Pass have risen compared to the same period last year.

"Europe is home to many of the longest and most sophisticated High Speed Lines across the globe. "France, Spain and Germany feature in the 'Top 5' global ranking (with Japan offering the largest network)", explains Dias e Seixas. "We predict that these trends will continue with the introduction of several new High Speed developments in Italy, Spain and Finland, making travelling through Europe by train easier than ever."

Eurail Pass Sales on Track for Record Year

kevin.coy@newsonnews.net (Kevin Coy) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 08:08:07 +0000

Eurail Group's fiscal year has gotten off to a good start as the eco-friendly company announces that sales have risen by 9% in the first six months of 2010; these results are compared to the same period last year.

Although the impact of the ash cloud in April and the global economic crisis to the travel industry has not been entirely erased, the stabilization of worldwide markets in which the Eurail Group G.I.E. operates, reflects positive activity levels. Eurail Group reports that June was a record month with an unprecedented increase of 17.3%. Furthermore, they forecast that the third quarter results, being the peak rail pass travel season, will continue to surpass Eurail Pass sales from previous years.

Eurail Global Pass and Eurail Select Pass sales have both increased by an average of 9%, meaning that travelers are maximizing their value for money by choosing to travel through multiple countries. "The growth is meeting our expectations despite the current challenging travel and economic environment", says Ana Dias e Seixas, Marketing Manager of the Eurail Group. "We are delighted to report that passenger trends are evolving to favor the Global Pass; this product offers excellent value for money because it allows the traveler to fully utilize the European rail network".

Eurail Group remains committed to its sustainable, long-term environmental goals and is well placed to attract more travelers as economic conditions improve. Furthermore, they continue to increase their marketing activities in growing markets such as China, India, Japan and South Korea. This has proved a worthwhile strategic approach because the half year report shows that sales have risen by 70% within the Chinese and South Korean market.

Although they recognize that the North American audience is slightly lagging behind with a decrease of -4.8%, Eurail Group suspects that this shows a sign of recovery by acknowledging that the decline for this market was far more dramatic in 2009. "The Eurail Group is optimistic that we are on track to reach our target of 450.000 passengers before the end of the year", concludes Ana Dias e Seixas.

Eurail Group Reports Growth for European Rail Travel

kevin.coy@newsonnews.net (Kevin Coy) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 08:05:34 +0000

Eurail Group G.I.E., the organisation dedicated to the marketing and management of the InterRail product range has delivered a combination of growth and increased profitability for the member railways in the first half of 2010.

Sales have increased by 11% compared the same period last year, demonstrating that more and more Europeans are taking to the rails with InterRail each year.

InterRail has proven to be a constant and 'crisis resistant' product despite the negative effects of the recent global economic crisis and the catastrophic effects of the ash cloud in April. "We believe that the current economic climate is actually very positive for InterRail", says Managing Director Mr. Rene de Groot. "Travellers are still very price sensitive, so staying in Europe for a holiday rather than jetting abroad is an attractive option for many Europeans. We continue to see a rise in sales originating from the United Kingdom, indicating that the economy is recovering there and suggesting that the concept of "staycations" is expanding into continental Europe with the help of InterRail".

Eurail Group reports that 22% of passes were purchased by families during the first two quarters of 2010; which strengthens the idea that InterRail is for all walks of life, whilst bringing the magic of InterRail alive for children. 73% of InterRail Pass holders continue to represent youngsters under the age of 26 who have been synonymous with capturing the spirit of InterRail for decades.

The introduction of the InterRail discount for 60+ travellers has also proved a success story and the Eurail Group reported a steady growth of 5%. "Tourism by train is often associated with so-called backpackers, so I felt that InterRailing may be a little eccentric. This assertion turns out to be totally unfounded" says Yvette Graf from Switzerland. "I am at retirement age and I recently tried the InterRail experience out of curiosity. I discovered that there were unexpected surprises around every corner and it's an experience that I'll certainly repeat".