ATOC

BritRail passes prove popular with overseas visitors
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date 3 March 1999
source ATOC
type Press release

Overseas visitors to Britain have given top marks to the national passenger rail service and pre-purchased BritRail passes.

In a recent survey of BritRail Pass holders using the railway, more than 70 per cent rated comfort, quality of service, punctuality and convenience to be of a high standard.

The survey revealed that many visitors chose to buy BritRail passes prior to leaving their home countries for the flexibility they offered and because the tickets were simple to use. BritRail Passes are administered by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC).

Forty-three per cent of the visitors surveyed considered using only rail when planning their holidays, while 30 per cent considered using cars, 13 per cent coach and 14 per cent air travel.

Before leaving home, people can purchase from travel agents worldwide BritRail passes which will allow them unrestricted travel throughout Britain's privatised rail network, operated by 25 train operating companies. From 1999 passes are also valid on the new Heathrow Express.

One hundred thousand visitors used a BritRail Pass on visits to the UK in 1998 and another 150,000 used other tickets sold overseas, contributing an estimated £120 million to the UK economy.

ATOC International Manager Richard Wood said: "I am delighted that time and time again international visitors are telling us they are pleased with the service they are receiving."

Not only are they happy with our train services, but they like the flexibility the tickets give them and think the tickets are easy to use, which means we have achieved our major objectives with overseas ticket sales.

"The unrestricted pass shows the train operating companies working together to provide the best through-ticket travel choices on services around Britain."

-ENDS-

For more information: David Campbell Bannerman, Communications Director 0171 904 3010 or pager (01523) 523 523 pager no. 849718

Railhub Archive ::: 1999-03-03 ATO-001