by Thomas Manthei and Gerhard Troche
GERMAN consulting firm Actima AG has compiled this 144 page study of the facilities and services onboard 44 passenger trains in 21 European countries. The report identifies best practices in different aspects of the service package, and looks at how train operators market their products.
Actima identifies future trends in passenger accommodation and the services demanded by travellers, including unaccompanied children, elderly and disabled passengers. Virgin Trains' Pendolino and Voyager trains are discussed, along with the Mk IV refurbishment programme for British inter-city operator GNER and the refurbishment of SJ's X2000 trainsets, German Railway's IC and EC stock, and SNCF's Corail Téoz vehicles.
The provision of onboard services such as Wi-Fi internet access and DVD rental is highlighted, and seat dimensions are compared. Market segmentation is identified, with mention of Eurostar's forthcoming plans to separate business and leisure passengers in first class. Various types of catering concepts are reviewed, along with web presence and brochures.
€1200+VAT from Actima AG, Kassenberg 19, D 45479 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.
