Full steam ahead for rail travel

Global business now worth $208billion

It is full steam (or rather, diesel) ahead for global rail travel. Across the world, travellers are increasingly attracted to trips by train, embracing more journeys from Europe to Asia and North America according to International Rail.

Recent problems ranging from full scale airline strikes and ash clouds from Chile to Iceland have highlighted the fragile nature of air travel and this is tipping the balance in favour of rail. So is increasing road congestion, delays and rising fuel costs — combine this with shortened rail journey times, as well as more high-speed, modern trains.

International Rail Ltd has seen bookings in Spain rise by 60 percent, especially corporate train travel. The Russian market is showing strong growth, as is Amtrak in the U.S., while rail bookings in Japan are now showing signs of recovery despite this year’s devastating tsunami. 

Rod Maton, Chairman of International Rail Ltd says: “Even though we are in difficult economic times in the developed markets of Europe and the U.S., rail travel is a resilient sector and continues to grow in popularity. At International Rail Ltd this year we have been able to offer the travel trade, our corporate partners and the consumer much more access to many of the railway systems across the world and we know that having access to timetables, the ability to book instantly and having the security of your rail booking before travel are all major selling points. With this type of information now available for Korea, Russia and Vietnam to name a few, rail travel can now be easily considered and booked here in the UK.”

The global rail industry is said to be worth about US$208 billion annually, and growth in rail travel is in line with the boom in international tourism, which grew by almost five percent in the first half of 2011, totalling a new record of 440 million arrivals, 19 million more than the same period for 2010, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.     

Rod Maton said: “For us, the growth in bookings reflects the fact that more of us are travelling and also that the easier it gets to book, the more customers will book. Since the booking of Renfe (Spanish railway) tickets and passes has become easier through International Rail Ltd, the sales have gone up. It really does seem to be that simple and we know this from talking to our partners in the travel trade, consumers and those in the rail industry.”

Valere Tjolle
Valere is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2011 Get your copy at a special offer price: HERE