EUROSTAR GOES DUTCH

EUROSTAR GOES DUTCH, FROM JUST £85 RETURN Eurostar - the international high-speed passenger train service linking London with Paris, Brussels and Lille - today announced it had reached an agreement with Thalys International to offer onward rail travel to The Netherlands. Passengers are now able to purchase tickets through Rail Europe for as little as £85 Standard Class return and £145 First Class return for travel from London Waterloo or Ashford International, to Rotterdam, The Hague, Schipol Airport and Amsterdam. Like existing Eurostar Plus destinations, passengers will have the benefit of a quick change at Brussels-Midi before travelling onwards to Holland. "This new agreement with Thalys makes rail travel to The Netherlands even easier and more convenient," says Schera Zekri, Director of Distribution for Eurostar. "It means a weekend break in Amsterdam or a business meeting in The Hague without first the hassle of airports and transfers." Thalys is the high speed link between Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne. Like Eurostar, not only does Thalys embody the most advanced railway technology with services from centre to centre in unbeatable times, but it also offers three major strengths: service, fares and frequency. "This agreement with Eurostar combines the best in European rail travel - speed, convenience, reliability and style," says Rita Moosen, Manager of Distribution and Systems for Thalys International. "Thalys and Eurostar are committed to establishing a truly pan-European sales offer for rail passengers, to make rail the preferred mode of travel between European centres." Thalys operate six return journeys daily between Brussels and Amsterdam, and seven in summer, making the journey not only frequent but quick - just two hours and 30 minutes. Eurostar operates eight services to Brussels Mondays-Saturdays, and seven on Sundays. Tickets can be booked through the Rail Europe Call Centre on 08705 848 848. ENDS For further information contact the Eurostar Press Office on +44 (020) 7922 4494, the Thalys International Press Office +32 2 548 06 52, or the Rail Europe Press Office on +44 (020) 7647 4909. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/05/20/20020520BIT00350/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/05/20/20020520BIT00350/wkr0002.pdf