European Rail Pass prices to rise — book before year-end to lock in current rates

By Li Xinyi, compiled and reported

Rail ticket prices for the European Rail Pass are adjusted at the beginning of each year. The 2012 prices have been gradually released, with the biggest increase seen in the Swiss Travel Pass, rising by approximately 19–28%. The United Kingdom, which will host the Olympic Games next year, also saw an increase of 9–11% in related rail passes. The popular Eurail Global Pass (covering 23 countries) and the Eurail Select Pass (choose 3, 4, or 5 countries) also experienced a 1.5% price hike.

Taking the Swiss Travel Pass as an example, the new 2012 fare for first-class travel for one continuous month is €785, which is €168 more than in 2011. Booking now can save you around NT$6,720. For the United Kingdom, which is expected to be a hot travel destination next year due to the Olympics, the popular BritRail Pass (2 months validity, 15 days of first-class travel within that period) has a 2012 fare of US$1,025, up US$96 from 2011. Travelers planning to visit the UK before the Olympics can save approximately NT$2,880 by booking now.

Travelers planning to visit Europe in the first half of next year can take advantage of booking before the end of December, as the new 2012/1/1 fares will take full effect then. Rail passes booked by the end of this year can be activated within six months of the booking date, allowing you to use 2011 prices to travel in 2012. FlyDarts Travel is also running a “2011 Bye Bye Sale” in December. Book any type of European Rail Pass before December 30th and receive a European hotel discount voucher worth up to NT$500.