Do you consider buying a tourist train, but you are not sure, what must be done for a successful operation? There are a few steps you should take before you buy a sightseeing train.
Choice of a route
The right route is essential. The train must connect tourist-attractive places with high concentration of people. The optimal length of the circuit is 3-10 km and the driving time from 15 to 30 minutes. In the cities it is expected to drive at speed around 10 km per hour, outside the city 20 km per hour (the maximum speed of the train is 25 km per hour). The route of the train can be shorter or longer if it is needed and if it has its reasons. The boarding place should be in a place with large concentration of people, and easily followed by another means of transport – ie. near a parking lot, public transport stop, nearby a station, by the waterfront etc. If there is a large movement of cyclists, it is possible to equip the train with a bicycle rack. For ski resorts, trains with the possibility of winter operation are suitable (covered, equipped with diesel heating) and with ski racks.
Not only the length of the route, but also the terrain and the climb are essential. Asphalt or otherwise paved roads without any greater uneveness are the best for the operation. The climbing on the route has a significant influence on the choice of a suitable train model. We offer trains which are able to climb a hill with a climb rate up to 16 %. When planning the route, it is necessary to also consider the width of the road and the turning radius of the train. Our trains have a turning radius from 5,5 to 6,5 m which is a great parameter considering the overall length of the train is up to 18 m.
Ensuring the operating permission
If the train will run on your private property, then you have no problem. But if the route goes through public roads or another private property, it is necessary to ensure the required permissions. In private properties and roads, the permission is provided by the owner of the property, in public roads, it is the competent department of transportation. The permissions are usually issued for a limited period; therefore, you have to keep in mind that it will be necessary to ask for an extension. The department of transportation usually refuses to issue the permission for operation on main traffic roads and everywhere else the train could significantly restrict the flow of traffic. It is necessary to keep in mind this fact when planning the route. The permission for operation is also connected with choice of a suitable drive of the train. If the route leads through a protected landscape area or a city center, you might encounter with a requirement for an environment-friendly drive. In our offer you can find trains with classical drive on diesel or petrol, as well as trains with environment-friendly drive on natural gas.
The important step to get the permission is the support of a particular municipality or city. Therefore, it is recommended to talk to the city authorities about the project and to win their affection. It works well, when you suggest that the train will carry the colours of the city or its coat of arms, or the name of the train will be derived from the name of the city. The train can be also used for city festivals, during Christmas markets or other similar events. It is necessary to introduce the whole project as a contribution for the city, as another service for its citizens and as a support of tourism.
source: freepik.com
Staff members
You can drive the train with a driving license for category D+E, which is the same for bus. This is because there is a high number of people transported. That applies for operation in public roads, as well as in private property.
We recommend looking for former bus drivers who have retired, eventually for bus drivers who take shifts and would like to earn some money besides their main income. The operation of the train is usually not a year-round work and thus it is sometimes difficult to find a suitable driver. It is also necessary to think where and how the tickets will be sold and whether there will be only the driver or even the conductor (this depends on the route and number of passengers).
source: freepik.com
Ticket price
The revenues from the fare are the money that will cover your costs associated with the purchase and operation of the train. In this case we recommend calculating the return on investment into the train. For these purposes, it is convenient to calculate the seat occupancy to 60 %. The costs include the purchase price of the train, the fuel price, the salary of the driver or the conductor, the costs on promotion, costs on maintenance and service, eventually the costs on space rental, fees for using of the route, costs on construction work – if it is necessary to built for example the train stops.
The ticket price should be based on the length and type of the route and on the given location. Always bear in mind that the price should be acceptable for the passengers and profitable for the owner of the train. We recommend using two-way tickets and eventually also include the entry to a cable car or other means of a following transport.
It also works to be effective to sell a family ticket, because the trains are very often used by groups with children.
source: freepik.com
Promotion
You might say that the promotion is taken for granted, and that you know how important it is. But in practice we often see that poor promotion is the reason why the train is not doing well in the given location.
When you say promotion, it does not mean just to use the social networks and web! It is important to connect to a whole system of tourism in the given location. The cooperation with the city or municipality, creating “packages” for tourists in cooperation with travel agencies, the follow-up on other means of transport, organizing trips… The train itself can be used for cooperation with other companies – it is possible to place the advertisement into the interior or exterior, on the tickets, to offer discounted entries to restaurants, cinemas, chateaux etc. Mutual cooperation and support in tourism is always advantageous.
In the time when the train is not fully utilized for some reason, it is suitable to offer the train for hire for one-day events but also longer periods. Also, the use of the train for private events brings the owner a significant profit.
When preparing the promotion strategies, it is necessary to put oneself in the position of the customer and offer him such a service which can best satisfy his needs. Maybe this sounds as a cliché, but people very often forget it.
source: freepik.com
Seasonality
Do you want to run the train through a whole year or just during the warmer months (April-October)? Are there enough tourists in the given location during the whole year or do you consider a shutdown during winter months? Maybe you could borrow the train to a ski resort for winter and thus have a whole year utilization of the train…
Even these questions must be answered before you decide to buy a tourist train. For a year-round operation, we recommend completely sheathed trains, equipped with diesel heating. If you will run the train only in favourable weather conditions, the trailers can be open, without glazing.
source: freepik.com
Operating permission
The road train can be operated under concession “Road motor passenger transport”.
source: freepik.com
We are happy that we had a chance to share the years of experience with you and we firmly believe that we have provided lots of useful information.
Do not worry, if you do not dare calculate the return on investments or you are unsure about the planning of the route. Do not worry even if the department of transportation is not too excited about the train…
We can help you with all these difficult tasks. And all of this is completely free of charge and without obligation.
Contact us and together we will find a solution. We are here for you.
Write to d.drckova@funridestech.eu or call +420 607 092 040