Rail & Coach News
Eurail passes go digital in Italy
Several years in the making, the tech initiative will ultimately create a centralised distribution system for Eurail passes, negating the need for paper tickets.
South Western Railway to retire Isle of Wight fleet
South Western Railway is looking for new homes for its soon to be retired Island Line fleet. The five Class 483 trains, built in 1938 for the London Underground, have been serving the Isle of Wight since 1989.
Rocky Mountaineer scraps whole of 2020 season
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and continued government travel and health restrictions, Rocky Mountaineer will suspend the remainder of its 2020 travel season. This will include all departures through to October 11th.
Eurostar to launch direct Amsterdam services
For these services to operate, existing agreements between the UK, France and Belgium signed in 1993 have been modified to include the Netherlands.
Trainline launches social distancing function to UK travellers
Trainline has launched a nationwide beta-test of Crowd Alerts, a crowdsourced feature in its app to help customers alert their fellow travellers if it is not possible to social distance on a specific train.
Eurostar loosens booking restrictions as services resume
Eurostar is offering travellers more flexibility on bookings, with all fares now available to exchange with no fee, up to 14 days before departure.
Leger Holidays acquires Shearings brand
Leger Holidays and Shearings formerly competed head-to-head in the escorted coach tours arena, with the former focusing on European tours while the latter was best known for UK coach trips.
Renfe-SNCF relaunch France-Spain rail services
The company now offers two daily frequencies in both directions, connecting the cities of Barcelona, Girona and Figueres with the French cities of Perpignan, Narbonne, Béziers, Agde, Sète, Montpellier, Nimes, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Valence and Paris.
Rocky Mountaineer extends suspension until late August
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and continued government travel and health restrictions, Rocky Mountaineer will extend the suspension of its 2020 travel season.
South Western Railway unveils ‘virucidal’ sanitiser
South Western Railway and Great Western Railway have announced the trial of a powerful sanitising treatment which kills 99.99 per cent of viruses and bacteria on surfaces for extended periods of time.
Le Shuttle offers socially distanced French connection
As the government slowly lifts restrictions and the prospect of an overseas summer holiday becomes a possibility, Eurotunnel Le Shuttle offers the ideal way to travel to the continent with a car while maintaining a safe social distance.
Jobs losses expected as Shearings enters administration
Specialist Leisure Group has gone into administration with thousands of job losses and cancelled bookings expected. The company owns the coach companies Shearings and National Holidays.