Amtrak, the US national rail system, has recently announced record online sales using a Web based booking system developed by global travel technology provider, Datalex.
With the system, online bookings have grown by more than 100 percent over the last year, accounting for 17.3 percent of total ticket revenue in May of this year.

Speaking about the increase in online bookings, Barbara J. Richardson, Executive Vice President, Amtrak said: “Our internet sales have averaged more than 100% growth per year over the past five years, and we`re excited to expect more than US$200 million in online bookings this year. But, more importantly we`re meeting customer expectations with a booking system that is fast, convenient, and simple to use.”

“The migration of rail and ferry travel sectors into the online booking environment, and the resulting demand for online booking and inventory management technology opens up enormous market potential for Datalex solutions,” said Neil Beck, CEO Datalex.

According to the PhoCusWright
report, “European Online Travel Marketplace 2000-2002”, European trains carry 5.6 billion passengers annually, more than half of the world`s total, with European ferries carrying 320 million passengers annually. The same report forecasted that rail operator online bookings in Europe would reach $1.1 billion by 2002 with rail companies conducting more Internet transactions than any other supplier segment - some as much as 30% of their bookings revenues.

The www.amtrak.com
booking system is powered by Datalex`s BookIt! CONSUMER Internet booking engine, and BookIt! MATRIX, a powerful, extensible and scalable integration platform that provides connectivity to a wide range of Global Distribution Systems, Central Reservations Systems for airlines, cars, hotels, ferries and rail in addition to other hosts systems. The same platform was previously deployed to power one of the world`s first multi-ferry enquiry and booking systems.

“We are delighted with the success Amtrak has achieved and are encouraged by the recognition by travel industry leaders and visionaries of the strategic business role of our technology in cost management, channel distribution, and customer service,” said Neil Beck. “This is a perfect example of a first-class organization taking advantage of first-class technology.”

In addition to airlines and major transportation suppliers, Datalex
solutions are deployed throughout the world in travel agencies, tour operators, mobile service providers, rail companies, leisure resorts, cruise companies and large enterprises where corporate travel management is required.

Related stories on ITN:

(05/06/2002) Saudi Arabian Airlines Selects Datalex for Booking Technology

(04/06/2002) ATA.com Receives Datalex Booking Engine

(25/04/2002) XML Global Signs Reseller Agreement with Datalex

(17/01/2002) Datalex BookIt! Pro solution implemented

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