Agents must get on track with rail sales

Travel agents are missing out on potential earnings by not taking advantage of the rail market, according to a report by Amadeus.

A study of the rail industry by the travel technology giant has identified a growth in demand for rail over the next seven years, from leisure and business travellers,

It has also noted significant improvements in the way rail tickets can be booked, ticketed and distributed, making it easier for agents to sell them.

"We know that historically it has been complex and time consuming to book rail and the lack of incentives have hindered the potential growth of rail bookings through travel agents," said Thomas Drexler, director of Amadeus Rail.

"However now that travel sellers are seeing an increased demand for rail, from both leisure and business travellers, and are noting an increased desire for air-rail comparison and combinations, it is time to embrace the opportunity available to them.

"New technologies and changing trends in ticketing and distribution are making it easier to search, compare and book rail travel in the indirect channel. '¨The market opportunity is clearly there for travel sellers, both in the UK and throughout Europe."

The Amadeus study, The Rail Journey to 2020, predicts that long-distance rail traffic in Europe will grow by 21% to over 1.36 billion passengers by 2012.

It says the growth will be driven by four key markets in particular, the UK, France, Switzerland and Germany.

by Bev Fearis

Monday, February 25, 2013

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I wonder whether...

...Thomas Drexler, director of Amadeus Rail, would care to comment and enlighten agents as to how they are supposed to make money from this groing rail market.

By Richard English, Thursday, February 28, 2013
Where's the profit...

...in selling something at only 2% margin? When I was a travel agent I could only just about scrape by on 8%. OK, so the job is now easier - but it's not only 25% of the work it used to be. Unless agents charge a booking fee (as do most of the online companies these days) then I can't see where the profit is to come from. And will customers pay such a booking fee now that the process is so much simpler than it used ro be? OK, agents might be missing out - but there are lots of other things they are "missing out" on these days which at one time were profitable sidelines. Theatre and coach tickets are just two that sping to mind.

By Richard English, Monday, February 25, 2013
Whooppee!

2% commission for selling rail along with all the hassle that goes with it, whoooo lets break open the champers!!!.....NOT!

By Derek Barnes, Monday, February 25, 2013