Eurostar is expected to have a stellar 2016 from the Australian market as the expanding high-speed service launches its new e320 trains at the end of this year.
Rail Plus chief executive James Dunne told Travel Weekly that the new trains will feature free wifi and greater capacity for more than 800 passengers, boosting their appeal in the Australian market.
“There’s been quite a good level of growth in Eurostar bookings this year,” he revealed. New services between London, Lyon, Avignon and Marseille which launched in May have already ramped up interest in Eurostar.
Now, Dunne expects the new trains, along with a new service to Amsterdam from December 2016, to boost that further.
To capitalise on growing interest in Eurostar, the wholesaler launched a Eurostar Ambassador program last month – the first in a series of online training modules.
Dunne reported “great results” for the module with 1300 agents, both rail novices and the more experienced, in Australia and New Zealand taking part.
The top three Australian agents each got 100% of the quiz correct, with Jessica Morrissey from Flight Centre Mt Lawley in Perth winning the major prize of a $500 Coles Group & Myer gift card by finishing in a blistering 62 seconds.
Her colleague at Flight Centre Mt Lawley, Erin Duce, was just nine seconds behind and now receives a $300 Coles Group & Myer gift card, while third placed Yvonne McKeown from Flight Centre Mackay finished in 103 seconds and takes home a $150 Coles Group & Myer gift card.
“We’ll be doing a lot more of that kind of activity,” Dunne promised. “It’s physically impossible to be in front of every agent in the country.”
The rail wholesaler also reported strong interest in British rail journeys as well as those through Italy.
“The value proposition of train fares between the likes of Florence and Rome is really compelling coming in at around $60 to $70,” Dunne said.
Eurail too is thriving on its value proposition, particularly for families with kids travelling free as of earlier this year.
Increased air capacity into Japan has also bolstered sales of Japanese rail product, Dunne revealed.
“We’re seeing consistent growth,” he said.
Meanwhile, the company is working to grow awareness of some of its lesser known products such as the Eastern and Oriental Express from Singapore through to Bangkok, and its range of Indian train journeys.
North American rail too is a growing sector for the company, which last week launched its first range of independent rail packages across the US combining Amtrak rail journeys with hotel accommodation, sightseeing tours, transfers and selected meals.
The release of the new rail packages comes just two months after Rail Plus unveiled an exclusive connection to live Amtrak inventory on its website.
