Over the past few years several rail new entrants have announced ambitious plans whether for night or day trains.
They promised much but so far most have delivered little. One wonders whether management understood the complexities of a rail operation.
Take French operator Midnight Trains as a prime example. Last year Scotland’s media gushed over the news that Midnight Trains “could connect Scotland with Paris, Barcelona and Rome”.
No mention was made of the difficulties involved in operating trains through the Channel Tunnel, the provision of UK border staff and, last but not least, the lack of suitable rolling stock. By ‘suitable rolling stock’ I refer to that which Midnight Trains hoped to operate. It said the trains would be like a hotel on wheels with cabins and en-suite facilities, which would satisfy business and leisure travellers alike.
Austria’s OEBB has a virtual monopoly on Europe’s best night train rolling stock. This it deploys on its expanding Nightjet network. Why cannot new entrants ‘splash the cash’ and buy new trains?
Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Business Traveller UK.
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Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Business Traveller UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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The rail thing - Why airlines and train companies are partnering to increase options for travellers on short journeys
An intercity flight connection operated by train would have been almost unthinkable in the early 1990s, but in 2024 it will increasingly be the default experience at many European hub airports. European nations have been among the world's leaders in adopting high-speed rail for short-distance trips, along with Asian countries such as Japan and China.
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Over the past few years, tourism has shot up stratospherically; recent figures from the European Travel Commission show it's grown 86 per cent since 2019. Its GDP per capita has also been increasing, and last year stood at US$8,800, while the average monthly salary is now around 84,000 lek (£704). Foreign direct investment is also on the rise, with countries including Switzerland, Italy, and the Netherlands targeting sectors such as energy, mining, information and real estate to a value of around US$1.5 billion in 2022, according to UNCTAD's World Investment Report. Not bad for a country which used to depend on foreign food aid.
Sushi Kanesaka at 45 Park Lane, London
Watching Kanesaka work his magic is performance in itself
Scandic Spectrum, Copenhagen
An impressive corporate hotel just minutes from Copenhagen's centre
Kimpton Clocktower, Manchester
The perfect mix of gorgeous heritage design with cool, cosmopolitan attitude
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London
A stunning success another calming experience in the capital
Eurostar Business Premier LONDON-PARIS
It remains the superior service for those travelling from London to Paris
Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER first class DOHA-HONG KONG
There is a lot to like, but my experience was far from perfect
4 HOURS IN...Vienna
You'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to the Austrian capital's museums, galleries and historic cafes
SWITCHING OFF IN...THE LOIRE VALLEY
Escape to the secluded forests of the Loire Valley for a digital detox
