ATD LINES/BAILWAY BUSINESS CAR SERVICES-RAILWAY COACH YARD AND REGISTRY PROJECT-Executive Summary-Alaskan Way Waterfront Development Project

RAILWAY COACH YARD AND REGISTRY PROJECT

Table of Contents

I. Executive Summary

Background

Vision

Developing Priorities

Delivery

II. Introduction

III. Railway Tourism in Washington State

A. Rail Line Community Markets

1. Canadian

2. Mexican

3. United State

4. Regional

5. Niche Markets

6. New Markets

IV. Consumer Experience and the Development of Railway Coach Yard Registry & Natural Product Strengths

A. Development Priorities

1. Experiences

A. Coastal and Puget Sound

Wildlife and Natural Parks

Ferry, Boat, Ship, Train, and Tours Restaurant City Tours Beach Access Puget Sound Adventure Recreation

B. Natural Geographic

Mountain Ranges Recreation Diversity Historical Sites

D. Heritage and Cultural

Festivals and Events Sporting attractions Heritage and Cultural Product 2. Infrastructure E. Accommodations Accommodations Campgrounds Lodging F. Attractions Attractions 1. Developmental Initiatives Seasonal Tourism Markets Business Market Development Appendix A Enterprise Agencies

References

I. Executive Summary

ATD LINES Railway Passenger Train Coach Yard Development and Registry is a railway industry project to focus investment in railway tourism, corporate travel, private railcar, event carrier industry and to maximize the return on investments. ATD LINES identify's development opportunities and priorities for the railway tourism and corporate business industry which is one of leading rail line community economic generators for private railway industry economy. This will ensure that the industry is growing in the right direction, with industry meeting consumer demands, and the funding partners supporting strategic initiatives.

Background

ATD LINES Railway Business Car Services, Private Railcar Tours, Event Train Carriers, Tourism Travel and railway transportation industry recognizes the continued need for guidelines to direct development in railway business and tourism industry. The railway coach yard development and registry which focuses on the accommodation industry sector of the Railway Tourism Adventure Programs and Corporate Business Transportation Services, to provide travel opportunities to rail line community programs.

Vision

ATD LINES Development of the Railway Coach Yard Guidelines and Registry are linked to tourism and business transportation strategy, focusing on rail line community programs and service industry opportunities, whose vision is for Railway Coach Yard Services to become a leading year-round railway business and vacation destination. Railway tourism and business strategy, the Railway Coach Yard, Registry Development and Guidelines are an evolving document designed to respond to ongoing research and ever-changing consumer trends. As such, it will be updated as required.

Development Priorities

The Railway Coach Yard and Registry Development Guidelines target all stakeholders, existing tour operators, new entrants, rail line community municipalities, tourism associations, consultants, funding partners, regional economic development agencies and corporations, and banks to ensure strategic investment in the railway tourism and business industry. Based on ATD LINES research and railway product and service strengths, the Coach Yard and Registry Development Guidelines identify 19 strategic development priorities, which are divided into three categories:

1). Railway Tourism and Business Travel Experiences in Rail Line Communities;

2). Railway Coach Yard Infrastructure and Accommodation Services;

3). Developmental Initiatives to Explore New Markets.

Railway Coach Yard and Registry Development Priority are divided into six sections. The first three sections define the Coach Yard Development Priority, explain its rationale, and detail the railway consumer’s expectations, or what railway consumer are looking for. The last three sections identify the rail line communities opportunities for development, explains the need for development by locality, region, state and other factors to be considered for the railway coach yard development priority.

Delivery

While Railway Private Car Tourism and Independent business railway cars continues to offer advice and sector opinions on individual applications, it is ATD LINES who will provide the leadership in economic development at the rail line community level and the coordination among federal-state government agencies and corporate business industry partners.

II. Introduction

Railway Industry Services Development is a fastest growing industry, railway tourism and business opportunities are integral to travel and transportation economic growth. The success of railway tourism and business industry lies in its ability to attract and offer visitors acceptable railway coach yard accommodations, product and services that are required in support operations and client needs. Enhancing railway and business services and product, incorporating leading edge technology, including professional development, and exploring new markets and the development of all four seasons. Will provide rail line community railway coach yards the competitive edge that is needed to become a leading year-round railway private car vacation and business railcar destination. ATD LINES identify the railway coach yard registry development priorities for providing resource itinerary planning options in tourism, business travel and transportation industry.

While ATD LINES is currently not a financial assistance program, the Railway Coach Yard and Registry Guidelines will focus on railway tourism and business industry development in the identified strategic areas of rail line communities access. This will ensure that railway tourism and business industry is growing in the right direction, with railway industry meeting consumer demand, and the funding partners supporting strategic rail line community railway coach yards and registry initiatives. ATD LINES Development Guidelines have evolved out of transportation tourism strategy; a vision is for rail line community Railway Coach Yards to become a leading year-round vacation and business industry destination. ATD LINES strategy for rail line community Railway Coach Yard and Registry Development Guidelines are an "evolving document" designed to respond to ongoing research and ever-changing consumer trends.

The Railway Coach Yard and Registry plan identifies nineteen strategic development priorities and is intended to be used by all stakeholders, service industry, tour operators, new entrants, rail line community municipalities, various transportation industry and tourism-travel-business associations, as well as funding partners. It highlights the development priorities, as identified through transportation research, to strategically focus all tourism development and corporate business industries, in rail line communities to ensure maximum return on investment.

The Railway Coach Yard and Registry Development Guidelines are designed to assist railway tourism and business industry in achieving the vision of becoming a competitive, leading year-round travel vacation and business destination by addressing railway travel and transportation facility structures and requirements. Exploring new markets, and by diversifying product and service offerings such as experiences, business office services, convention and conference needs, railway car and hospitality accommodations, and attractions. ATD LINES has developed this railway coach yard facility service plan and registry needs was developed through research, railway industry consultation, railway private railcar industry representing requirements, corporate industry travel requirements, transportation industry and valuable industry and citizen feedback throughout the process.

III. Railway Tourism in Washington State

The Washington State Tourism Industry is integral part of the State's economy. Boasting revenues, tourism in passenger ship, ferry services, marine tours, and various recreations is one of the fastest growing industries in the State, and Washington State Tourism Industry is one of the fastest growing tourism sectors in the country. Washington State welcomes government leaders, corporation conferences, conventions, sports areas, vacation visitors, business travel meeting and public events each year and employs a diversity of people in full-time and seasonal positions. In addition to the primary tourism industry, the value to the secondary industries in both revenues and employment, such as the food and beverage industry, is exceptional.

Understanding the ATD LINES Railway Industry markets is integral to transportation industry development. The following is a brief description of each of the four markets.

A. Rail Line Community Markets

1. Canadian

Canadian visitor is well educated, demands high quality, has a high household income and enjoys low risk, modest involvement. Canadian tends to be repeat visitors, with many of them visiting year round. They also tend to take longer trips, have flexible itineraries, and travel without children.

2. Mexican

Mexican visitor is a new concept for a growing business market. However the American Visitor and business travel market is very well establish. Private railway industry has long since been providing American businessmen and tour rail travel to various Mexican rail line communities. This railway group of travelers is also well educated, with a high household income, is the most environmentally-sensitive, has the highest demand for quality, and is low risk but open to new concepts, and very spontaneous.

3. United States

The American visitor is the oldest visitor having the highest household income of all markets, and is very well educated. The American visitor demands high quality and expects low risk with modest involvement.

4. Regional

Regional visitor is the youngest visitor, enjoys low risk but is involved, demands high quality and is interested in the outdoors, nature and exploring. The "majority" travels in June, July and August, is spur of the moment traveler's, and travel with children. Nearly two-thirds report staying in for three nights and nearly all did not obtain trip information for planning purposes.

NOTE: In addition to the four main markets, expanding into niche markets and exploring new markets offer new opportunities for Washington State Railway Tourism and Business industry.

Niche Markets

ATD LINES offering railway business and private railcar services and coach yard accommodation opportunity for Washington State to capitalize on specific groups, business and specific interests markets.

New Markets

ATD LINES is currently focused on expanding railway business and private railcar offering into the following new markets:

1. Asia,

2. Europe,

3. North America Canada & Mexico.

IV. Consumer Experience and the Development of Railway Coach Yard Registry & Natural Product Strengths

The success of ATD LINES Railway Business Car Services and Private Railcar tourism and business industry hinges on its ability to attract and offer visitors the choice of railway coach yard localities, support products and services accommodation required. The railway business and private railcar transportation industry must continually evolve existing products and services introductions, new tourism and business opportunities that will assist rail line community railway coach yard tour vacation and business destination. To succeed, the ATD LINES Railway Business Car Services and Private Railcar Services must ensure that products and railway coach yard accommodation service offered to clients experiences complement Washington State's natural product strengths, address year round business opportunities, attract consumer interest, generate new business, and increase repeat business for the tourism and business sector. Includes the growing consumer demand for experiential railway event travel services or products. ATD LINES Railway Services needs to capitalize on "first-in" advantages with new service offering or unique Washington State products. Washington State and rail line communities have an exciting opportunity to invigorate and energize railway tourism and business industry as a whole.

Consumer research indicates that, while the "destination" is an important factor in making travel decisions, the "railway coach yard location, design and services offering" tour vacation and business experience is rapidly gaining in importance. Therefore, based on research and validation by railway senior travel industry experts, ATD LINES business and tourism services and products will be developed around categories of experiences that can provide a competitive advantage.

The categories of experiences for Washington State are:

1. Coastal and Puget Sound,

2. Natural Geographic,

3. Heritage and Cultural,

4. Conference and Convention.

5. Attractions

ATD LINES focus will allow the Railway Transportation to promote and feature the Entire State of Washington and rail line communities, four seasons of the year.

In addition to the above Railway Travel Experiences, maintaining and developing Washington State rail line community tourism infrastructure has also been identified as a Development Priority. Attractions and Business services can act as an anchor product to a region, and the railway coach yard accommodation experience is also important to the Washington State rail line community visitor, whose expectations, security, quality of service, locality and amenities are constant.

One of Washington State rail line community challenges will be to address seasonal communities. The Washington State rail line communities have great potential to enhance fall, winter and spring product offerings in railway services. Enhancing existing railway services and product by developing new railway experiences can be complemented by developing new and expanding existing services markets. Exploring new and potential markets for State of Washington rail line community coach yard accommodation services will assist with seasonal as well as improving Washington State overall tourism revenue.

ATD LINES Railway Business Car Services and Private Railcar Coach Yard success also lies in the marketing of Railway Services and in the professional business development of Washington State industry. It is essential to encourage railway business industry to further enhance railway services, individual railway products through improved marketing and business management skills. Washington State Tourism Industry Associations can provide training to front-line tourism and travel information staff, which elevates the overall quality of the railway transportation experience. Professional development and training for managers and tour owner/operators in improving business planning and human resources skills, will assist ATD LINES Railway Business Car Services in gaining a competitive edge in international and, national and regional marketplace.

Railway Technology is increasingly becoming an integral component of the tourism operation. Research indicates that consumers are using the Internet to research travel options and book online more and more each year. ATD LINES railway tourism and business industry must remain on the leading edge of technology by encouraging the upgrade of software to allow for increased web presence, online reservation systems, and by enhancing connectivity to provide internet usage by visitors and business industry before and during transportation visit.