UK train companies WILL stay in Interrail scheme after U-turn

UK train companies will stay in the Interrail scheme, completely reversing Wednesday’s decision, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) says.

RDG, which represents UK train operators announced earlier in the week that the arrangement would end and the UK would leave the Interrail and Eurail in January.

The industry body had said its members would stop participating in the programmes because it believed the separate BritRail pass was “the best option” for visitors to Britain.

But a strong response on social media has sparked a complete U-turn over the decision. The RDG said in a tweet that “following the strong reaction to news of our departure, we and Eurail, the company which runs Interrail, renewed talks.”

Interrail and Eurail passes entitle holders to travel across as many as 31 countries. The former are for European citizens, while the latter are for tourists from the rest of the world.

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Britain has been part of Interrail since its launch in 1972 and began a trial selling Eurail passes in January.

Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald accused the RDG of being “deeply irresponsible” over the situation.

He said: “We are in the middle of a climate crisis and have just 11 years to drastically reduce emissions to avoid catastrophe. We should be making it easier for people to travel between countries by rail, not encouraging flying by making rail travel more expensive and difficult.

“At this crucial political juncture, we should not be closing ourselves off from our European neighbours further by creating extra and unnecessary difficulties.”