What European Rail Companies Need to Do to Boost Growth From Tourism

Rail travel hasn't always been at the forefront of consumers’ minds when it comes to holiday planning. Domestic trips were often done by car and if travelers in colder climates wanted to head to the beach, they'd most likely fly. But in the last few years European rail companies have stepped up attempts to get more leisure passengers to use their services. It hasn't been easy though, due to issues with rail travel itself and with the wider tourism industry. "Many people use rail for independent trips, indeed the holiday starts when you leave, not when you arrive. But I think rail is underused by the mainstream travel industry who insist on packaging people into coaches and flights," said Mark Smith, founder of rail website The Man in Seat Sixty-One, in an email.

"European train companies don't help, of course. Short booking horizons (geared to people buying train tickets days or weeks ahead as part of daily life, not planning holidays eight months ahead) and dyna