G.I.E., the organisation handling the marketing and management of the InterRail Pass, reports positive full year sales results in 2011, for the fifth year running, a media statement said.

More than 248 000 Europeans travelled in Europe by rail using InterRail Passes in 2011, the statement said.  

Compared to 2010, month-on-month sales followed a similar pattern to that of 2010, but April and May especially were very positive sales months with 11 per cent and 14 per cent growth, respectively.

While traditionally sold via the European railways, online sales of InterRail Passes already amount to 25 per cent of total sales, the statement said.

The InterRail Global Pass , valid for travel in 30 European countries, remains the most popular option among youth travellers under 26 years old. 

The InterRail One Country Pass also saw a significant increase of 5.5 per cent in sales. Italy and Germany remain the most popular destinations for travelling with a InterRail One Country Pass with a combined market share of 62 per cent, the statement said. 

"The Eurail Group G.I.E. is encouraged to see continued growth for InterRail Passes, despite the challenging current European economic climate," the statement quoted René de Groot, managing director of the Eurail Group, as saying.

Countries whose railway companies participate in the InterRail Pass offer include Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden and Turkey.