PHOTO: The TGV crossing bridge in the south of France.

Eurail, which offers unlimited rail travel through 28 European countries, has introduced a host of new passes and deals this year – all aimed at enhancing its offerings for U.S. travel agents and their clients.

“It is anticipated that 2016 product improvements will have a positive impact on sales in the U.S., particularly the introduction of the new 11-month advance booking period and the reintroduction of the Eurail Select 3 Country Pass,” says Clarissa Mattos, Eurail’s North America market manager.

The new 11-month booking period will enable U.S. travelers to plan their trips well in advance, Mattos says. By extending the rail booking period, travelers can take advantage of deals on both air and rail passes, both of which are often launched in the first quarter of the year. The new booking period also enables agents to book their clients’ flights and Eurail passes at the same time.

The reintroduced Eurail Select 3 Country Pass (one of Eurail’s Select Passes) gives travelers a choice of up to three bordering countries and is expected to prove especially popular with American agents and travelers, Mattos adds.

She calls the Select 3 Country Pass ideal for travelers with shorter vacations and repeat European travelers interested in exploring a few countries in greater depth.

Also new this year is the Eurail Scandinavia Pass, which was formerly a regional pass. It’s now one pass for Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

There are currently three types of Eurail passes: the Eurail Global Pass for travel in 28 countries; the Eurail Select Pass for travel in two, three or four bordering countries; and the Eurail One Country Pass, for travel in a single country. The Eurail One Country Pass is available in 21 countries.

The Eurail system encompasses nearly 3,900,000 square miles, more than 155,000 miles of railways and more than 10,000 train stations in Europe. Eurail has more than 35 railway and ferry partners.

The U.S. is already Eurail’s largest market, accounting for 105,000 passengers and 32 percent of total sales in 2015, says Mattos, adding that the second-largest market is South Korea with a 14 percent market share.

“The strong U.S. dollar in 2015 had a positive impact on the number of U.S. citizens choosing to travel to Europe,” she says. “Lower oil prices also led to a reduction in airfare prices for long-haul air travel, which greatly benefited customers.”

Several Eurail product improvements introduced in 2015 also contributed to the positive impact on sales, she adds. These included a new “children under 11 travel for free” policy and making the youth discounted pass available in first class.

In 2015 the U.S. and Canada had the highest level of growth, at nearly 16 percent, compared to that of other Eurail regions. The U.S. market specifically grew by just over 17 percent last year over 2014.

The typical American Eurail passenger purchases the pass in the spring and visits these leading destinations: Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, according to the company.

“The U.S. Eurail user looks to travel extensively in Europe, with the Eurail Global Pass and Eurail Select 4 Country Pass proving the most popular products,” Mattos says. “Many travelers look to take in the European hotspots and major cities, including Rome, Berlin, and Prague.”

March through July are the most popular months to travel for U.S. Eurail Pass holders, with the majority of travelers opting for first class. Adults and youth, 12 to 25 years old, make up the majority of U.S. Eurail customers, totaling more than 90 percent of Eurail customers in the U.S.

Mattos says families have become an increasingly important U.S. market for Eurail, especially with the introduction of the children under 11 travel for free policy. The number of American kids traveling with a Eurail pass grew by more than 140 percent in 2015 over the prior year.

For more information, visit Eurail at eurail.com.