Strong increase of InterRail passengers continues
More and more European travellers are hopping on the train this year during their holiday. While the number of flights are decreasing due to the economic crisis, the number of InterRail passengers throughout Europe has risen again in the passed few months, with the traditional summer rush yet to start.
Between January and April 2009 the number of people travelling with a InterRail Pass increased with 5 percent compared to last year. In 2008 almost 240,000 Europeans travelled with the pass, an increase of 37 percent compared to 2007.
"Despite the economic slowdown we see that our growth continues and more people chose to go on a holiday by train," says marketing director Ana Dias e Seixas of the Eurail Group, the company which manages the InterRail Passes on behalf of the participating European companies. "Especially in the summer, the train turns out to be a popular way to travel."
The InterRail Pass allows people unlimited train travelling to or through 30 European countries at relatively low costs. Although more and more adults over 26 travel on this pass, it's especially popular amongst youngsters. They represent 60 percent of the InterRail customers.
Last summer, between June and August almost 140,000 Europeans travelled by InterRail, an increase of 24 percent. This year Eurail expects another increase. Dias e Seixas: "The summer always is the best time for young people to travel by train. The journey itself turns into a holiday because they meet all kinds of other young people from different countries and cultures. That is precisely the appeal of the InterRail Pass."
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