EURAIL ENCOURAGES TRAVEL TO SPAIN AND EXPO 2008

Utrecht, the Netherlands, June 5, 2008 – The Eurail Group has partnered with the organizers of Expo 2008 to offer a special discount on the entrance fee to Eurail Pass holders.

This year's International Exposition takes place in Zaragoza, Spain from June 14th until September 14th and is expected to attract 4.5 million visitors from all over the world. The theme is "Water and Sustainable Development", an especially relevant topic given today's increasing focus on environmental awareness worldwide.

What better way to access this exposition than by one of the most eco-friendly forms of transportation – the train. The Expo venue is easily accessible by rail, situated within walking distance (less than half a mile) of the new, ultra-modern Zaragoza Delicias station. Visitors can also take a shuttle bus or enjoy an aerial view of the site by riding the Cable Car linked to the Expo's Water Tower Gate. Rail connections to Zaragoza are excellent; direct high-speed AVE trains from the country's capital, Madrid, transport passengers in just under 1 hour, 30 minutes and Barcelona is less than 2 hours away. During the Expo, additional trains will be added to these routes to facilitate an expected increase in passengers.

Eurail Pass holders are entitled to a 12% discount on the entrance fee, provided their rail pass is valid in Spain. Tickets can be purchased at local Expo booths. Extensive information on Expo Zaragoza 2008 (available in English, French and Spanish) can be found at www.expozaragoza2008.es

Spain is one of Eurail's most popular destinations, ranking 4th out of the 25 countries covered by Eurail's various rail passes. Its extensive internal rail network, operated by Renfe, is impressive, with constant improvements to high speed lines drastically cutting journey times between major cities. Boasting one of the most modern railway systems in Europe, Spain is only second to Japan in the greatest number of miles of high-speed rail lines in the world.

Earlier this year, Renfe unveiled the eagerly awaited Madrid-Barcelona high-speed route, which whisks passengers from city to city in just over 2 ½ hours. Future developments will cut travel times even further by increasing train speeds from 185 miles to 215 miles per hour.

Eurail's wide range of rail passes provide many options for traveling around Spain and the surrounding countries. The Eurail Spain Pass is one of the most popular single country rail passes offered by Eurail. For those wishing to explore additional countries, Eurail Regional Passes coupled with France, Italy or Portugal are available. Spain also participates in the Eurail Select Pass program, (which allows customers to choose 3, 4 or 5 connecting countries in which to travel) as well as in the classic Eurail Global Pass, valid in 20 countries.

For more information about the Eurail Group, go to www.EurailGroup.com Eurail Passes are available from ACP Rail International (www.eurail-acprail.com); Eurail (www.Eurail.com); Flight Centre (www.flightcentre.com); www.OctopusTravel.com; Rail Europe (North America: www.raileurope.com, rest of the world: www.raileurope.fr), and STA Travel (www.statravel.com).

June 7, 2008   Posted in: Airlines & Railways