Rail travel up as more Brits take train to Europe

Fed up with flying? And nervous of tackling foreign roads? You’re not alone. Figures from Keycamp suggest that more of us are letting the train take the strain and opting to travel to our summer camping holiday destination by rail – indeed, rail bookings with the self-catering specialist for 2008 have already exceeded those for the whole of 2007.

And little wonder, with improved TGV links and the new Eurostar terminal at St Pancras, there’s never been a better time to travel to Europe by train – with even seemingly distant holiday resorts in the South of France, Italy and Spain now easily accessible by rail.

Dave McKenna, marketing manager at Keycamp, explains its popularity: “Not only does the train take away the stress of airport queues, it also offers a more relaxed and leisurely way of travelling, allowing you to start the holiday the moment you leave the station and take full advantage of the scenery. It also scores highly with those looking to be more eco-conscious when it comes to holidaying.”

Fancy giving it a try - then how about hitting the tracks to Florence to try some camping Italy style? Depart from St Pancras for Paris, before changing and heading out to Italy and the glorious Tuscan hills, where the stunning Norcenni Girasole Club campsite awaits.

Set in the heart of the Chianti region, just 28 miles from Florence and an hour’s drive from Siena, Norcenni is as popular a choice for gourmets as it is culture vultures, and offers a wide range of facilities including superb water park, gym, sauna, wine tasting, cookery classes, volleyball and tennis.

A seven night stay in March in a Supernova mobile home, sleeping two adults and up to five children, costs from £257, accommodation only. Rail travel, departing on 14 March, starts from £255 per adult, with car hire or transfers to and from the station available at a supplement.

For further information visit Keycamp.co.uk.