Langlois
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Rail Europe, a U.S.-based distributor of European rail products, has worked to simplify European train travel for American tourists since 1932. At present, the company represents more than 30 railroad operators throughout Europe. Using its reservation system, agents can arrange train travel to the entire European rail network from a single source. Frederic Langlois, president and CEO of Rail Europe, recently spoke with TravelAge West about the latest trends and innovations in rail travel, and the ways agents can capitalize on them.
What trends are emerging in European train travel?
The European rail industry is currently undergoing what I call a “high-speed revolution.” Many countries in Europe — mainly France, Spain and Germany — are launching high-speed trains, networks and lines. In fact, people don’t measure distance in miles or kilometers anymore — people measure distance in hours by high-speed train!
What future trends do you anticipate?
I would say that, in the future, high-speed trains will render plane travel within Europe obsolete. Even today, there exists an unspoken rule that, if it takes less than three hours to get from one city to another, one should choose a high-speed train over a plane. I predict that within five to 15 years, the high-speed network in Europe will be so strong that airlines will have to decrease their capacity and focus on long-haul flights rather than short-haul commuter flights.
How is your company responding to the trend of green travel?
We always highlight the fact that high-speed trains are one of the greenest modes of traveling. In fact, they are three times more energy-efficient than normal trains and up to 10 times more efficient than planes.
What are the main differences between high-speed train travel and air travel?
First off, traveling by train means that you travel from city center to city center. You don’t have to take additional transportation to get from the airport to your final destination. This, of course, is another reason train travel is greener than air travel. But on top of this, the experience of train travel is a wholly different one than air travel. It’s memorable in itself. Traveling by plane, you don’t mingle or talk to the people around you. Onboard a train, you can talk to the locals and have a coffee at the bar.
How are European airlines staying competitive?
They are really thinking outside of the box and are actually developing their own high-speed trains. Air France recently set up a joint venture with Veolia Transport to have its own high-speed train by 2011 or 2012. Airlines are seeing the trends and realize they need to enter the rail industry if they want to remain competitive.
How is Rail Europe staying competitive?
We are always looking for ways to provide our clients with added value. Through Rail Europe, clients not only book and purchase rail tickets and passes, but also can buy metro cards and museum tickets. Clients can buy the Oyster card for travel in London or the Paris Visite card for transportation in Paris. Also, we offer discounts on museum and river cruise tickets throughout Europe.
How can agents capitalize on Rail Europe’s services?
We offer a commission to agents when they book train passes or point-to-point tickets through our B2B Web site, Agent.RailEurope.com. Agents should note that we do not offer commission to agents if they book tickets or passes by phone.
What informational tools are available on your B2B Web site?
Agents have access to a variety of webinars, online training sessions and product “cheat” sheets that keep them updated with our new products and promotions. The Web site also houses a great deal of sales tips for agents seeking to better sell train travel to their clients. We also offer discounted passes and tickets for agents who want to experience European train travel firsthand. After experiencing high-speed trains for themselves, agents are in a much better position to inform and recommend it to their clients.
In light of the current economic downturn, how do you view the future of American tourism in Europe?
I’m optimistic about American travel to Europe in 2009 for three main reasons. First, the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Euro has improved dramatically. Second, we are making our products more affordable by dropping our fares by an average of 20 percent. For example, one of our hottest new products, Anywhere Anytime France, has dropped from $199 to $159 this year. For $159, a client can purchase a first-class train ticket to anywhere in France and can add subsequent trips throughout France for only $50 each. This represents huge savings, and I believe it will draw travelers to trains as an affordable mode of transportation. Third, I am optimistic about European tourism because travel, simply put, provides individuals with a much needed escape from the stresses of everyday life. By June and July, I believe that Americans will need and want a break and, with today’s favorable exchange rate, I am optimistic that our business will be on the rise.
