EANS-Adhoc: Jungfraubahn Holding AG
Jungfraujoch magnet for many Swiss
visitors in 2009
ad-hoc disclosure transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
05.01.2010
In 2009, 651,000 people took the trip to the Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe: the second-best result in Jungfrau Railways´ history. Only in 2007 did more people travel to Europe´s highest-altitude railway station. Visitor frequencies rose by 3.7 per cent compared to 2008.
The result is all the more remarkable considering the fact that in 2009, Jungfrau Railways welcomed around 100,000 fewer Asian guests on the Jungfraujoch in comparison to the previous year. This reduction in numbers is due to concerns about swine flu, the economic crisis and an exchange rate that made travelling in Switzerland expensive. Jungfrau Railways was able to offset the decline thanks to a vigorous marketing strategy and special offers. Large numbers of Swiss were motivated to visit the Jungfraujoch with excellent-value offers. Events on the Aletsch Glacier, such as a game of cricket between India and Great Britain, the largest ever gathering of flag bearers and the visit by heavyweight boxer Vitali Klitschko, contributed to the Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe brand enjoying global publicity. The SnowpenAir concert and first Starnacht from Jungfrau Region also presented the region in an extremely positive light.
Other excursion destinations were also well-frequented last year. The drop in visitor numbers on the Harder Railway can be explained by the fact that the railway celebrated its centenary in 2008 and frequency was doubled thanks to special offers. In 2009, the Harder Railway actually achieved the second-best result in its history.
Start of winter season
The 2009/2010 winter season has had only an average start. Some 164,000 guests took to the pistes of Grindelwald-First, Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen and Mürren-Schilthorn over the Christmas/New Year period (21 December to 3 January). The transport companies in the Jungfrau Winter region were thus unable to repeat the previous year´s excellent results. This was largely due to poor weather and the resultant lack of day guests during the festive season.
The six-seater Eigernordwand chairlift, which opened on 11 December 2009 has proved a success. Many winter-sport fans used the link between Arvengarten and Eigergletscher in order to enjoy the powder-snow pistes at the foot of the Eiger North Wall.
Passenger frequency Passenger frequency Change
2009 2008 in % Jungfrau Railway: 651,000 628,000 +3,7% (Joch arrivals)
Wengernalp Railway: 2,444,000 2,421,000 +1% (total frequency)
Grindelwald-First: 484,000 472,000 +2.5% (from bottom station)
Mürren rail & cableway: 541,000 567,000 -4.6% (total frequency)
Harder Railway: 146,000 179,000 -18.4%
end of announcement euro adhoc
Further inquiry note:
Urs Kessler, CEO
0041 794 07 90 52
Branche: Railway
ISIN: CH0017875789
WKN: 001787578
Index: SPI
Börsen: BX Berne eXchange / SWX Local Caps
SIX Swiss Exchange / SWX Local Caps