Are you hesitant about the price of your train journey? Rail Europe's CEO shares his insights on how to find the best deal.
advertisementBjorn Bender, CEO of Rail Europe, is no stranger to railways. Last year alone, he traveled around 75,000 kilometers across Europe.
For him, a train journey is “not about getting from A to B, it's actually a second home. This is my office, this is where I can really work.”
Post-COVID-19, there has been a renewed interest in rail services as travelers seek to stay closer to home and many seek to reduce the negative environmental impact of flying. Demand is increasing around the world, and Björn sees that reflected in ticket sales.
“The demand for mobility is huge and growing globally,” he says. ” railway The industry is growing, with an increase of perhaps 20% across Europe and cross-border services. ”
For Rail Europe, 2023 was a “great year”. Bender shared that the company's sales grew by 66 percent year over year compared to 2022 and about 75-80 percent compared to 2019.
Despite the demand, Bender believes the perception among many people that train tickets are expensive is still misplaced.
He shares his inside knowledge with Euronews Travel on how to get the most savings when booking train travel.
Do not book train tickets directly
Mr. Bender's first tip is to avoid booking directly with the train company. He likens the experience to booking a flight ticket. “I don't usually book directly on an airline's website, at least not for me. I compare prices on Skyscanner or Kayak, for example.”
Comparison sites, sites that offer ticket prices from multiple providers, offer travelers the most choice and allow them to choose between a variety of routes and fares.
“When I want to travel from Frankfurt to New York, I don't care whether I'm sitting on Delta, United or Lufthansa at the end of the day,” Bender elaborates.
He believes this attitude towards booking train travel is only just becoming established. Europe now. “Europe is increasingly moving into an environment where there are interdependent platforms and players like us compare prices and rates and make recommendations based on the individual needs of travelers.”
Book your train tickets 7-12 weeks before your travel date
When it comes to travel, it's widely accepted that the earlier you book, the cheaper it is. However, just like with air travel, there is usually a golden opportunity to find the cheapest train ticket prices.
“I think a pretty good range is to book seven to 12 weeks in advance,” Bender advises. Valuable insight, but for how long? After all, he says, things are changing.
“Previously, there were only a very limited number of discounted fares on high-speed rail. Now you can book discounted fares on any airline 30 minutes before departure.”
Saving money on airfare also depends on when and where you want to travel. It's no surprise that it's more expensive to catch a train on Monday morning than on Tuesday, and finding a bargain may not be practical.
Include stops in train route
While nonstop service is certainly fast and therefore attractive, it is also expensive.
“Once you're willing to change trains, you're more likely to find a better fare,” Bender says.
This seems to be a common occurrence with airfares. train There is no difference. With enough research, you can find easy connections with relatively short wait times, so the overall impact on your trip will be minimal, but the savings can be significant.
advertisementJoin our loyalty scheme and buy rail passes and rail cards
“Loyalty programs, especially cross-border services, increase your chances of getting better fares,” Bender says.
The same goes for rail passes and rail cards. “When traveling with your family over the summer, the Pass gives you the chance to travel to almost all of Europe for just a few hundred dollars. EUR 4 weeks. ”
Bender believes that the availability and usefulness of rail cards and passes is still underestimated in Europe.
“There are a lot of opportunities, but education is still not very high, even for Europeans. It is our responsibility and that of mutual providers to disseminate all information and to be a true partner of the traveler from inspiration to post-sale.” is.”
