Eurostar, www.eurostar.com – 0870/518 6186. Latest fares and offers for Britain–Paris, but no bookings for through-trains to Switzerland. Note also that student discount tickets are only available from Usit Campus or Wasteels, not directly from Eurostar.

Rail Europe, www.raileurope.co.uk – 0870/584 8848. Information and bookings for Eurostar tickets and all European passes. Web-based information on Eurail passes is at www.raileurope.com instead.

Swiss Federal Railways, www.rail.ch – 020/7734 1921; Leicester Sq, London W1. Timetables, fares and passes for trains to, from and within Switzerland.

Thomas Cook. Publishers of the famous red Thomas Cook European Timetable (£9.50), detailing schedules of over 50,000 trains in Europe, as well as over 200 ferry schedules and rail-connecting bus services. Updated monthly; main changes are in the June and October editions, giving details of the summer and winter schedules respectively. Available from PO Box 227, Peterborough PE3 6PU (01733/503571), or from high-street branches or main train stations across the UK.

Usit Campus (see here). Discounted fares on rail passes and Eurostar tickets only.

Wasteels, 020/7834 7066; Platform 2, Victoria Station, London SW1. Pan-European agent, with rock-bottom prices on all train tickets and passes.