FEATURE RAIL TRAVEL
From the Front Line RICHARD ADAMS
MARKETING MANAGER GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS
For most
holiday visitors choosing rail travel, the priority is scenic routes at a leisurely pace
rail in long-haul destinations as new trains are introduced and tour operators increase their coverage. The key destinations are Canada, the
T
US, India, South Africa and Australia, but many other ‘selling opportunities’ are available including Singapore, Thailand, Mexico and Peru. Rail travel offers a scenic and sociable
alternative to flying between major gateways, with the opportunity to travel back in time to a more leisurely and elegant age. A rail trip in a long-haul destination is
rarely the main focus of a holiday, but part of an extended itinerary, which might include touring by air, coach and cruise. Agents who are comfortable offering tailor-made holidays can demonstrate their expertise by suggesting a rail tour to customers who may not have considered this option. The top sellers include the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada, The Ghan and Indian Pacific in Australia, the Blue Train and Rovos Rail in South Africa, the Eastern & Oriental Express between Bangkok and Singapore, and various luxury trains in India. All are heavily featured by tour operators, with some trains booked out months in advance. A few operators also sell rail passes
for independent travellers, meaning you can find your own way around huge countries including the US, Canada and Australia. Rail Australia now has eight rail passes on offer including the new Aus Reef and Outback, Trans Aus, and Aus Reef and Beach, which starts at
A$698 for up to six months unlimited travel. A revival in rail travel is picking up speed in the US, where national long- distance operator Amtrak is benefiting from $8 billion in federal spending to improve the rail network. It operates more than 300 trains each day to more than 500 destinations, having increased passenger numbers from 21.6 million in 2002 to 27.2 million in 2009. The most popular Amtrak trains used
by UK visitors are the Empire Builder (Chicago to Portland/Seattle), the California Zephyr (Chicago to San Francisco) and the Coast Starlight (Seattle-Los Angeles). More high-speed routes are planned, with 150 mph Acela Express trains already operating from Boston to Washington DC via New York. Many other countries are expanding
their high-speed networks – especially China – but for most holiday visitors choosing rail travel, the priority is scenic routes at a leisurely pace. In countries such as India and Peru, luxury trains are the only way to travel overland in comfort. The decision by Great Rail Journeys in 2009 to start selling through agents
Main picture opposite: The Eastern and Oriental Express; Above: The Rocky Mountaineer
has opened up more opportunities; the operator has an unrivalled range covering both long haul and Europe. Rail is a growing market and it’s time for more agents to jump on board.
WHAT'S NEW A new luxury train, The Maharajas’ Express, started operating in India in March. Part-owned by Cox & Kings but featured by several UK operators, including Abercrombie & Kent, it opens up parts of India hitherto difficult for a luxury traveller to experience by plane, car or existing rail services. The Maharajas’ Express, which operates in each direction between Delhi-Mumbai, and Delhi-Calcutta, carries up to 84 passengers. Amtrak has launched a USA Rail Pass
for international visitors, which allows flexibility in travel time as well as visits to destinations throughout its network. Prices start at $389 for eight journeys made within 15 days, top price being $749 for 18 journeys within 45 days.
he 21st Century could well turn out to be the new Age of the Train, and there are more opportunities for agents to sell
“Our most popular long-haul tours are the North American itineraries including
iconic trains the Canadian or Rocky Mountaineer. These are often ‘celebration’ holidays for a wedding anniversary or significant birthday. New for 2011 is the Namibian Explorer, with a second new African tour utilising the Blue Train, and a new South American itinerary including Machu Picchu. New Asian holidays include Hong Kong and Singapore.”
DAVE ATHERTON
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER RAIL AUSTRALIA
“The Ghan and Indian Pacific are our best sellers, and luxury Platinum Service is
selling really well. We have launched the 2011 Southern Spirit season and are looking at a five-night Adelaide to Brisbane tour. Our Travel Uni training programme is doing well with over 360 agents registered; we launched a fifth module for this covering CountryLink services from Sydney.”
DAGMAR MARROCCO MARKET MANAGER, KUONI “The Eastern & Oriental Express appeals to clients who want to recapture the
glory days of rail travel, and celebrate a special occasion. The most popular trip is the Singapore-Bangkok two- night journey, which is easy to add on to a holiday in Asia. In South Africa, Rovos and the Blue Train both offer a fantastic alternative to flying between Pretoria and Cape Town."
ANDREW OGDEN TRAVELBANK WORLDCHOICE, TOTNES “It’s great to work with a specialist tour operator such as Great Rail Journeys, and we
have booked clients on The Ghan, Indian Pacific and Trans Siberian Express. The repeat booking potential is exciting as clients fall in love with rail travel and want to do more. The commission potential is good as rail is just one part of the jigsaw."
www.sellinglonghaul.com • September 2010 29
ROCKY MOUNTAINEER
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