With a 16 per cent increase in sales every year, and the number of travellers touching 26 million, Rail Europe has passed the symbolic € 200-million mark and established a new record in the company’s history. Kunal Kothari, Executive Director, Rail Europe India, said “The Indian market continued its growth in the face of the slowing economy and the fall of the value of the rupee against most currencies. However, the growth on the e-commerce platforms of Rail Europe nearly doubled with the traditional sales channel grew marginally. Of course, the growth would have been higher if not for the extremely popular promotion on the Swiss Pass that allowed one adult to travel free with one paying adult. With the timing of this global promotion coinciding with the Indian peak travel period, the number of passengers grew by a much higher rate than the revenue. With the rupee stabilising in the last quarter of 2012, sales gained momentum and it looks promising to sustain through 2013.”
In 2013, Rail Europe will accelerate this strategy thanks to the introduction of new products in its -already large- 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.
“We’re thrilled with these outstanding results for 2012, which exceed our initial previsions and show a doubling of our sales in three years’ time,” stated Pierre-Stephane Austi, CEO, Rail Europe. “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.
