I begrudgingly have to admit that train manufacturer have a lot to learn from the car industry.
The futuristic concept cars, incredibly slick commercials, showrooms where we can touch, smell and feel the cars… These are all incredibly efficient and slick ways car makers have managed to make us long for $40k+ metal boxes that destroy the planet!
So how are train models being marketed? I bet you’ve seen more images of train crashes than train models…
Part of this fact is that trains are sold to companies and governments, and not to people like you and me. Hence, instilling a sexy image of trains does not matter as much to train makers.
However, at the end of the day regular people are the ones who will ride the trains and pay the price for them. If people don’t want trains, government and companies won’t buy trains, and train-makers wont be able to sell them!
There are so many politicians that have managed to promote a much more expensive highway extension over a new train line because people just see cars as sexier than trains…
Therefore, I think it is crucial for train-makers to create the same appeal for trains as car makers have done for cars!
There is hope!
There is one company that has truly taken this lesson to heart: the Bahn Berlin!
Now, they do not make the trains, but they know the importance of selling them to the public.
So together with the Swiss train-maker Stadler, in preparation for their new S-Bahn train fleet, they have created some truly impressive marketing material. Check these out:
For even more sexy material on the new Stadler S-Bahn trains, click on the link below:
It's Time we Advertise Trains Like Luxury Cars!