About Us: Why Purchase from Rail Europe

See the Real Europe with Rail Europe.

A little bit of planning can mean a lot more traveling. Traveling by train will enhance your entire European experience: no airport hassles or wasted time, and more leisurely gourmet dining as you gaze through panoramic windows while being whisked from city center to city center. It’s no wonder trains are so popular, so make sure you book in advance to get the best prices and most choices.

Book in advance and still don’t feel locked in

If you aren’t ready to commit to an itinerary, you can still get a deal. Just buy a pass for any one of the European countries you’re visiting, since almost any travel combination is possible from any single country to the entire European rail network. The passes are valid for a specific number of travel days in a specific area. And while some trains do require booking a seat in advance, you can do it before leaving or locally once you’re there. Either way, it’s a relatively inexpensive and perfect way to travel when you’re not sure of where you want to go.

Or if you’re traveling in France, use our newest offer: Anywhere Anytime France™. You’ll buy advance credits for trips that you can redeem online for actual 1st class seats on any French train. You can change your mind, change departure times or go somewhere else. You can even add more credits if you suddenly decide to follow a last minute inspiration. All these offers cannot be purchased locally. So visit our state-of-the-art reservation system to start planning your perfect journey.

Sometimes, man cannot live by website alone

While we constantly improve this website to answer most of your travel questions and create flawless planning and booking experiences (not to mention web-only prices on many tickets and passes), we understand that sometimes you just need to talk to a person. And nothing compares to our team of European travel experts to help you finalize a complex booking and make sure you have the best experience possible. Contact them directly Monday to Friday (9 am to 7:30 pm EST) at 1-800-622-8600.

Simplicity is in our DNA

With 35 different railway systems, it’s much easier for the North American traveler to ride the rails than navigate planning their own trip on them. That’s why we’re here. We offer a unified booking experience across Europe, with the ability to package tickets from different carriers. With Rail Europe, you don’t have to sweat the details, we sorted it out for you.

And it’s no surprise that we have a special relationship with the carriers, starting with the Swiss Railways bureau established 100 years ago in New York and merged in 1992 with its 75-year old French counterpart to become Rail Europe. Over the years, these deep relationships have led to special agreements benefiting our clients. Including technology that enables us to sell -and offer- more travel options than any other vendor.

We believe in what we do and in going green

We believe traveling by train brings out our best by putting us in a serene state of mind, relaxed and ready for all the journey offers. We believe the spirit of train travel is to enjoy simple pleasures, connecting firsthand and personally with other people and cultures.

We also believe that the train is a low-impact form of travel that preserves the authenticity of the regions and natural areas you cross. High speed trains are three times as energy efficient as regional trains, but even the slowest train is 25% more energy-efficient then cars.

We sincerely hope you enjoy your European journey – and will do everything to ensure your greatest possible experience.