WITH a 16 per cent increase in sales year on year and traveller numbers reaching 2,6 million, Rail Europe confirms in 2012 its dynamism and reinforces its position as the #1 distributor of European rail travel in the world. Passing the symbolic €200-million ($261 million) mark, Rail Europe 2012 sales established a new record in the company’s history.
“We’re thrilled with these outstanding results for 2012, which exceed our initial predictions and show a doubling of our sales in three years’ time!” said Pierre-Stephane Austi, Rail Europe’s CEO. “Despite a difficult worldwide economic context, Rail Europe managed, once again, to achieve a double digit growth, contributing to the growth of the whole industry and affirming its leadership role” Austi added.
“Despite the challenging market conditions, Rail Europe achieved significant results in Middle East markets with 30 per cent incremental sales in 2012 to continue positive results been achieved in 2011.
“This is along with more focused marketing and commercial strategies to offer the maximum support to travel agents and travellers from the region” said Waleed Ahmed, the regional manager of Rail Europe Middle East in Dubai.
The growth on its e-commerce platforms of Rail Europe nearly doubled while the traditional sales channel grew marginally. The slow growth was also led due to the extremely popular promotion on the Swiss Pass that allowed one adult to travel free with one paying adult.
Other highlights in 2012 included – launching the 2nd edition of RIDE – Rail Europe’s International Distribution Event which gathered over 250 professionals of the rail industry in Paris; the launch of Rail Europe Connexion, an inspirational magazine proposing travel ideas and rail itineraries and the launch of Italo, the new Italian high speed train, operated by NTV, thus transforming Rail Europe’s distribution system into a truly neutral distribution platform, with more opportunities to travel by train in Italy.
Rail Europe not only benefits from the growing trend in rail travel, it actually seems to stimulate it. Thanks to its systematic strategy, the company expanded across all distribution channels (trade and direct), all segments (groups & individuals), and on all products: rail passes and point to point tickets, European and non-European.
This year Rail Europe will accelerate this strategy with the introduction of new products to its product portfolio, ambitious partnership and promotional programs, new innovative distribution solutions, and of course close support to all markets, fast growing and mature markets alike.
2013 will also see the direct connections of Rail Europe’s distribution system to Trenitalia’s & Deutsche Bahn’s distribution systems produce full-year results. Rail Europe expects significant sales from these connections, which allow Rail Europe customers and trade partners to access the same offer as in Italy or Germany, with real time access to all trains, fares (including the most discounted ones) and promotions, as well as to advanced functionalities like e-ticketing.