Eurail Enjoys +18% Year-on-Year Growth

Eurail Enjoys +18% Year-on-Year Growth

March 13, 2007

Breaks Record Set in 2000; Revenue up 17%

    UTRECHT, Netherlands, March 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
The Eurail Group, owner of the popular Eurail Passes
allowing unlimited rail travel in a wide range of country
combinations in Europe, reported a worldwide increase in
sales of 18.3% in 2006 over 2005.  With a total of 445,000
passengers, Eurail also exceeded the 435,000 passengers who
purchased Eurail Passes in 2000, the highest since the
company was created in 1959.  Revenues for the group
increased by 21 million euros to 144.5 million, a 17%
increase on 2005 figures.

    Over the last few years, Eurail's popularity has been
growing steadily. Like most travel suppliers, Eurail was
badly affected when the number of overseas visitors to
Europe dropped following September 11, 2001. As the travel
industry began to recover from its global decline in 2003,
Eurail's passenger totals rose commensurately with the
rising number of travelers -- to not only reach but surpass
pre-9/11 figures. 

    Eurail Passes are sold to non-Europeans only, and
travelers come predominantly from North America, Eurail's
largest market at 53%, Asia (25%) and the Pacific (11%),
regions that have all seen very strong growth.  The most
popular Eurail Passes are the Eurail Select Pass (allowing
travelers to travel in any three, four or five adjoining
countries) and the Eurail Global Pass (enabling travelers
to explore all 18 participating countries by rail),
representing 70% of all Eurail's sales.

    In its unceasing quest to improve products and stay
ahead of evolving travel trends, Eurail has expanded its
range of Passes with more choices to fewer countries and
shorter travel periods.  As a result, the range of Regional
Passes (offering fixed two-country combinations) was
expanded in January 2007 when Eurail added Austria-Hungary
and Italy-Spain to the list, increasing the total number of
two-country options to 18.  Additional expansions to the
Regional Pass range are expected to be announced within a
few weeks.  Finally, Eurail's range of National Passes
(good for exploring a single country by rail) has been
expanded and now includes Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands
and Luxemburg), Croatia, Ireland, Italy and Portugal.

    The EURAIL Group comprises 27 railways and shipping
lines, as well as several bonus partners.  For more
information about Eurail and to purchase, go to
www.Eurail.com or one of Eurail's authorized sales agents:
ACP Rail International (eurail-acprail.com); Flight Centre
(flightcentre.com); OctopusTravel.com and Rail Europe 4A
(raileurope.fr/wheretobuy).


    For more information, please contact: 

     Mrs. Ana Dias e Seixas
     Marketing Manager
     Eurail Group G.I.E.
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]