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Britain’s train companies will no longer be part of the Interrail and Eurail schemes, which allow travellers to journey across Europe with a single pass.

While Brits travelling on the continent will not be affected, Europeans heading to the UK will now be forced to buy two separate passes – or visit only London.

Industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said its members will stop participating in the programmes because it believes the separate BritRail pass is “the best option” for visitors to Britain.

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.

Rail expert Mark Smith, founder of Seat61.com, said the decision is “a backwards step” as it would put visitors off from going to destinations such as Edinburgh, York and Bath.

“They’ll be encouraged to see London and go back and enjoy their free travel elsewhere,” he told PA.

“So it’s bad news for the regions.”

RDG director of nations and regions Robert Nisbet said: “The rail industry boosts British tourism and working together, rail companies are offering the best option for tourists with BritRail, which is recommended by Visit Britain, offers two for one deals on 200 attractions across the country and includes the convenience of mobile tickets.

“Although the Eurail Group has ended our decades-long membership of Interrail since we stopped trialling Eurail passes, British people will feel no difference – they can still buy an Interrail pass, get the Eurostar and travel by train across Europe.”

UK pushed out of Interrail scheme after dispute

The UK's decades-long membership of the Interrail scheme, which allows people to travel around Europe on a single train ticket, is to end.

From January 2020, UK rail journeys will no longer be covered by either the Interrail or Eurail passes, said Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents UK train operators.

It means ticketholders will have to buy separate tickets to get around Britain.

RDG blamed a dispute with Eurail Group which manages the Interrail scheme.

Many on Twitter reacted angrily, warning it would put off visitors from travelling beyond London.

Mark Smith, a train travel expert and founder of the website The Man in Seat 61, said: “This is a decision of the British train operators, it’s on them. It’s as if they see the Flygskam [flight-shaming] grassroots movement [encouraging people to move] towards rail, and instead of welcoming it, deliberately go out of their way to stop it.”

Astonishing.

Source: The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/aug/07/uk-train-operators-pull-out-interrail-brexit-eurail)

Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA), said: “The RDG blames this on a dispute with the Eurail Group, but that’s nonsense. This has got small-mindedness written all over it, along with the government’s Brexit fingerprints.

“Either this shows the true Little Englander nature of the Tories, or how out of touch the rail companies are with the people. Or both. Either way it’s not good enough.

“This is a truly retrograde step limiting the ability of young people to explore the continent they live in and do so in an affordable and environmentally friendly way. Be in no doubt this decision will harm tourism outside of London and the wider economy. I’d urge the RDG and transport secretary, Grant Shapps, to think again and quickly sort this out.”

If only the RDG's TOCs were as quick to reverse some of their poor decisions...

Perhaps a "n't" now needs adding to the thread title!

UK train companies will stay in the Interrail scheme, reversing Wednesday's decision, the operators' group says.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents UK train operators, had said the arrangement would end in January following a dispute with Eurail Group which manages the scheme.

But it prompted a backlash on social media, with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps calling for a U-turn.

RDG said it had reversed course "following the strong reaction".

"We are pleased to be able to tell passengers that we have reached agreement and will be remaining part of both the Interrail and Eurail passes," said Robert Nisbet, director of nations and regions.

etc

Britain’s train companies never wanted to leave Interrail. Following the strong reaction to news of our departure we and Eurail, the company which runs Interrail, renewed talks.

We are pleased to be able to tell passengers that we have reached agreement and will be remaining part of both the Interrail and Eurail passes.