Record result for Queensland Rail Travel

[ozbob]

http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/AboutUs/MediaCentre/MediaReleases/Pages/RecordresultforQueenslandRailTravel.aspx

Record result for Queensland Rail Travel

17/10/2011

The September school holidays have proved to be a bumper time for Queensland Rail Travel, with the organisation rewriting its own record book after it posted the two biggest revenue earning weeks in its long history.

Revenue for long-distance rail services hit an all-time high in the fortnight from September 16 to 30, with $1.25 million a week coming in from ticket sales.

The figures smashed the previous single-week record by about $150,000.

The $2.5 million total in travelled revenue over the holiday period is 16% up on the previous best figure for the same period.
Queensland Rail Travel General Manager, Max Kruse, said the surge in revenue showed rail travel is becoming increasingly popular with both tourists and Queenslanders travelling intrastate.

"I think one thing we've done more successfully is lifting our focus on what the customer wants," Mr Kruse said.

"The business has been transporting people across Queensland for 146 years, but what I think we're doing better than ever is giving them a journey and an experience they'll never forget."

"In the past, our company was seen as merely providing a transport option, but now we see ourselves as providing entire holiday solutions.

"It's not just about getting customers from point A to point B, but making sure they enjoy the journey, as well."

The spike in revenue comes just a few months after the launch of Queensland Rail Travel's biggest marketing campaign ever.

The cornerstone of the All the holiday you can take campaign is a commercial featuring a sushi train which carries Queensland Rail Travel's five key holiday experiences.

"We planned an 18-month blitz promoting tourism in Queensland, and early indications are it is paying dividends," Mr Kruse said.

"Packaging our five key holiday experiences - the Outback, reef, rainforest, beach and city – has proved to be a real winner with customers, who are looking for us to provide tailor-made holidays for them."

As well as Queensland Rail Travel's five key holiday experiences, customers can also take advantage of a number of themed long-distance services running throughout the year.

These include: a Master Class journey with Sirromet Winery's Executive Chef, Andrew Mirosch, and Chief Winemaker, Adam Chapman, aboard The Sunlander; golf and gardening adventures; and even Texas hold 'em poker events, to name just a few.

For more information, visit www.queenslandrail.com.au or www.facebook.com/QueenslandRailTravel

[SurfRail]

And this translates into how many passengers? 

Why do we care what a government owned corporation's turnover is - we're not trying to pretty it up for sale.

[O_128]

And this translates into how many passengers? 

Why do we care what a government owned corporation's turnover is - we're not trying to pretty it up for sale.

aren't we?

[HappyTrainGuy]

My guess its a response about all the crap the courier mail tries to put on TravelTrain about the few passengers that use the service with the subsidy for each passenger.

[Stillwater]

Is it not about all those extra hungry diners who ate at that sushi restaurant where the Traveltrain goes round and round with the meals on it?   

Maybe it is the $15 standby rate to Toowoomba.

[ozbob]

I like the restaurants that use the steam engines, rather than the diesels to pull the rice and dimmers around  ...

:bi

[colinw]

Says a lot that even on this forum, the response to what should be positive news is one of negativity & cynicism.

[Fares_Fair]

The increased revenue and lack of actual numbers (which is how they usually report it) suggests the increase is primarily from fare hikes, and not necessarily more patronage.
I hope that I am wrong about this.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Traveltrain haven't really had any fare hikes.

[SurfRail]

Says a lot that even on this forum, the response to what should be positive news is one of negativity & cynicism.

I'm very cynical about why they have chosen income rather than passenger numbers, yes, because it looks completely suss.

Then again I am a lawyer, and am therefore (a) paid to be cynical and (b) am under no illusions about what governments get up to given I deal with them on a daily basis.

[O_128]

For this article to make any sense the last check of revenue must have been years ago.