| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 07/08/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 41 |
| Copyright: Other |
EUROPEAN
EUROPEAN
RAIL TRAVEL
Train operators are teaming up with rail companies in an attempt to close the gap onlow-cost airlines to mainland Europe.
THE idea of letting the train take the strain is growing in popularity as more people select rail over flying to get to Europe.The most obvious alternative to the airlines is Eurostar’s rail service from London Waterloo to Paris, Lille or Brussels which attracts several million passengers a year – Eurostar sold over seven million tickets last year – ranging from backpackers lured by £69 return deals, to executives who like the speed and comfort of the first-class product.
But some ferry operators are also trying to woo passengers from the airlines with competitively priced rail and sail products.
Stena Line has the biggest choice, with combined train and ferry prices to both Holland and Ireland which are popular among young people, those on a budget, groups and those who do not like flying.
However DFDS Seaways and Irish Ferries also have packages linking train and ferry travel.
Stena Line marketing assistant Giselle Gillies, responsible for the Harwich-Hook of Holland route, said sales on its Amsterdam Express product, linking London to the Dutch capital, are up 20% on last year.
This is due partly to a brand change at the end of last year from HSS Express to Amsterdam Express, but low prices are also a factor in its success.
London to Amsterdam Apex fares lead in at £49 return. By comparison, low-cost carrier EasyJet was offering one-way flights from London Luton to the Dutch capital booked in July for travel on August 3 from £30 one way excluding taxes.
“The train comes right into the ports of Harwich and Hook, so it is very easy,” said Gillies. “City to city takes seven hours against four hours by air – including check-in time – but the train takes passengers into the centre of the city.”
Irish Ferries UK passenger manager Daragh O’Reilly said rail and sail programmes compete well with low-cost carriers.
“Low-cost airlines are great for people in the southeast but not if you live in the Midlands or further north.
“Most of the passengers arriving in Holyhead by train come from areas where there are no low-cost flights. For them, rail and sail is a more flexible option.”
To meet growing interest, Irish Ferries is about to distribute a brochure detailing rail timetables that link with the ferry crossing, as well as fares.
Stena Line’s rail and sail product to Ireland leads in at £51 return for a Dublin Duo ticket, for two people travelling together from Chester to Dublin, or £76 return from London.
The price includes the train to Holyhead, the HSS fast ferry to Dun Laoghaire and a 20-minute DART train to the centre of Dublin. The total journey time from London is just under eight hours.
Stena Line product manager Jane Thompson said: “The advantage we have over airlines is that they quote a lead-in fare but then you have to add taxes and airport parking. We offer a total price from any railway station in the UK.
“It is a very simple product for agents to sell as they can call our dedicated rail team to make a booking, so they don’t need any specialist knowledge.”
DFDS Seaways offers both rail and sail products from Harwich to Lübeck or Berlin in Germany from £200 or £255 per person, including the ferry to Hamburg with two nights on board, rail travel to Lübeck or Berlin and two nights in a three-star hotel.
Rail breaks to Copenhagen, with an overnight ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg, cost from £205 including two nights in a one-star hotel. DFDS will also book UK rail travel – London to Harwich costs from £16 return.
Marketing manager Vanessa Markey said:”We are seeing an increase in sales of city breaks by rail.”
Netherlands network: sales on Stena Line’s Amsterdam Express to the Dutch capital have soared by 20%
Netherlands network: sales on Stena Line’s Amsterdam Express to the Dutch capital have soared by 20%