Vacations By Rail Adds New European Tours

- Chicago-based Vacations By Rail was acquired by the UK-based Great Rail Journeys in 2019; Great Rail Journeys itself was subsequently acquired by private equity firm Vitruvian Partners in May 2025 to help it become a global market leader. - The expansion into France and Spain targets a European rail tourism market projected to grow from USD 338.5 billion in 2025 to USD 578.2 billion by 2035. - This move taps into a booming demand for luxury train travel, a global market that reached USD 1.98 billion in 2024 and is forecasted to hit USD 3.93 billion by 2033, driven by a renewed interest in "slow" and experiential tourism. - The new tours focus on two of Europe's top destinations; in 2024, France was the world's most visited country with 100 million tourists, while Spain was fast approaching with 93.8 million visitors. - While France attracts more visitors, Spain generates significantly more revenue per tourist, suggesting an opportunity for the premium, immersive tours Vacations By Rail is launching. - The North American market, which Vacations By Rail serves, is a key driver for European rail, accounting for nearly half of operator Rail Europe's business in 2025. - The focus on small-group and independent travel aligns with post-pandemic trends, as cross-border spending on rail tours has rebounded 59% above pre-pandemic levels, significantly outpacing the 18% recovery in general cross-border tourism spending. - The investment in European routes follows a period of significant growth for the parent company, which reported it had tripled the size of its U.S. business since its acquisition of Vacations By Rail.