Saverpass Available

The Eurail Saverpass, introduced last year, has become a permanent option for travelers to Europe.

The pass, available in first-class for 15 consecutive days of unlimited rail travel, is for three or more persons traveling together for that period. During the off-season, between now and March 31, 1987, that restriction drops to two or more persons.

The rate for the Saverpass during the off-season will be $199 per person. Next April 1 the rate will rise to $210.

You have to buy the Saverpass, as well as other Eurail passes, in the United States. Your tickets are issued on an open-dated basis, so you can decide when you want to start using them. You have six months from issuance to use the passes.

The basic Eurailpass has five categories, each for first-class travel: 15 and 21 days, and one, two or three months. The 1987 prices have gone up, but are still a good deal. The 15-day pass will cost $280, up from $260.

Children under 12 pay half-fare; under 4, they travel free. The same reductions apply to the Saverpass.

There is also Eurail Youthpass, only available in second-class, good for one or two months with rates $310 and $400 respectively in 1987 (up from $290 and $370 this year). You have to be under age 26 at the time you start using the pass.

The passes are good for train travel in 16 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, West Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

In addition, the passes may be valid for free or reduced fares on some bus systems including such famous sightseeing routes as the Romantic Road in Germany; sailings on the Rhine and Danube Rivers; crossings on several lakes in Switzerland, Austria and Germany, and various ferry crossings between Italy-Greece, Sweden-Finland, Ireland-France and Spain-Morocco.

If you are going to spend most of your time in one country (or block of countries such as the Benelux area), check into that nation’s own rail system for whatever special passes may be available. Some passes are not sold in the United States. A good source of information about such rail passes are foreign government tourist offices.

Contact travel agents or the sales offices of the national rail systems of the European countries.