European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 28, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The do passenger train Rheingold makes its Way through Ober Wesel West Germany. By Mary Neth staff writer Deutsche Bun Desbah your ticket to 16 countries when Europe is hit by Peak summer travel and its major highways turn into Long parking lots it can pay to leave the family car at Home and take to the rails. European trains Are comfortable and fast and go everywhere from the smallest villages to the heart of the largest cities. Before hopping aboard however Check for special fares. Many bargains Are offered. If you have the time but not too much Money the Long established eur Alpass can be your ticket to extensive sightseeing. It allows unlimited first class travel free of All surcharges through 16 european countries Austria Belgium Denmark West Germany Finland France Greece Italy Luxembourg the Netherlands Norway Portugal the Republic of Ireland Spain Sweden and Switzerland. The pass is not valid for travel to and from Berlin besides the eur Alpass there Are the less expensive eur ail youth pass and eur ail save pass. The eur ail youth pass for anyone under 26 years old offers the same benefits As the eur Alpass except that it is for second class travel and fast train surcharges must be paid. If you Are under 16 and have been in Germany for six months Check out the inter rail pass. It May be a better buy the eur ail save pass is for 15 Days of first class travel through 16 countries for three to five people who travel together. From oct. 1 to dec. 31, it will he open for use by two people. The three different passes can be purchaser by anyone with a valid passport military identification card won t do who is not a resident of Europe the soviet Union Turkey Algeria Morocco or Tunisia. Once you have one of the passes you can travel As much or As Little As you desire during its Validity. The passes also allow you to Board Many steamers ferries and buses free or at substantial discounts. Originally it was not possible1 for tourists to buy a eur Alpass once they were in Europe. Today eligible tourists can Purchase the passes from the member railroads and their sales agencies. In 1978, the member railroads expanded ticket sales to include members of the . Forces stationed overseas. It was decided that since they retain . Legal residence status while overseas they can be considered As having tourist status. In Germany there Are several eur Alpass sales Points. They can be purchased in Marks at ticket counters at main train stations in Frankfurt Hamburg Heidelberg Cologne Munich and Stuttgart. They can be purchased at the same Dollar Price charged in the United states from the German Rak Rei Sebiro an Der Kaise Strasse based in Frankfurt and Der Deutscher Reisaburo travel agencies both accredited sales outlets of the West German Federal Railroad. Rak has Branch offices at . Air bases at Rhein main Sembach Span Dahlem and Hahn. The passes also can be purchased through the Frankfurt office of eur Alpass specialists of Wilmington Del. Some air Force itt offices and most army itt offices carry the firm s order forms. Buying in Marks through a train station offers the Best Price break particularly since those prices have just been reduced. The 15-Day eur Alpass for example which previously sold for 570 Marks now costs Only 460 Marks. The Dollar Cost of the passes however remains the same As when announced earlier this year. With the new Mark prices and figuring an German Mark Exchange rate of 1.80 to the Dollar you la save about $60 on a 15-Day pass and $1 27 on a three month pass compared to the Cost of ordering through an itt office. Eur Alpass specialists charge the Normal . Dollar Price plus a $1 5 service fee. For delivery within 72 hours it charges an additional $ 15 per pass. The following Chart lists current prices for eur ail passes at the various outlets 1 in Marks at ticket windows at the German train stations in the cities mentioned earlier 2 in the United states and at Rak offices at the . Air bases mentioned earlier and 3 at eur Alpass specialists in Frankfurt and through that company from various itt offices. Period valid 1 5 Day 21 Day 1 month 2 months 3 months 15-Day Saver youth 1 month 2 months 1.dm 460 $255 570 $316 730 $405 1010 $561 1240 $688 330 $183 500 $277 650 $361 2. $298 $370 $470 $650 $798 $210 $320 $420 3. $315 $385 $485 $665 $815 $239 $335 $435mm mat Eura impasses Are an inexpensive Way to travel by train throughout Europe. They Are not the beginning and end however of cheap rail travel. There Are other Low Cost possibilities for making tracks across the continent and within the individual european and scandinavian countries. Following Are some the special prices available. Ticket sales offices at larger european train stations can provide detailed schedules and prices. When a special offer is designated for a certain group customers will have to show either a passport or identification card. They also May be asked to provide a passport size photograph. The German Bun Desbah prices Are figured at an Exchange rate of 1.80 Marks to the Dollar. As both ticket prices and Exchange rate Are subject to change you should Check with the individual rail lines to be sure of the current Cost. Europe inter rail pass reduced fare for one month s second class travel in 21 countries Austria Belgium Denmark Finland France great Britain including Northern Ireland Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Yugoslavia Luxembourg the Netherlands Norway Portugal Rumania Switzerland Spain Morocco and West Germany. Can be purchased by anyone under 26 years old and on German rail lines offers a 50-percent savings. Inter rail plus ship provides the same second class one month train travel for those under 26 As the inter rail pass plus connections to 11 ship route s Between the continent and great Britian and Ireland the Baltic and the Mediterranean. Rail europ s res an extra about $11 to the German rail system s senior pass for women Over 60 years old and men Over 65. Offers 50-percent reduction on travel through 14 countries and 30 percent reduction for travel in five countries. Valid either for a year or until the senior pass expires. Rail europ f ref an addition about $11 to the continued on Tigi 6 july 28, 1988 stripes Magazine