Railway industry body trawls for ad agency

The Railway Forum, an umbrella body for the rail industry, is seeking an agency to advise on its communications strategy.

Members of The Railway Forum, which includes Railtrack, leasing and rolling stock companies and the Association of Train Operating Companies (the trade body of the passenger rail companies), are exploring the role of advertising and have already registered with the Advertising Agency Register.

A spokeswoman for ATOC says: “At this stage we don’t know what we might use advertising for in the future. We do have a political agency, which gives advice on areas such as new parliamentary bills, but no advertising agency.”

ATOC, one of the most important members of The Railway Forum, represents 25 rail companies. It does not have any involvement in individual routes and services, but operates industry-wide schemes such as the national rail enquiry line, staff travel, and concessionary cards for pensioners and young people. It sets the formula which train operating companies use to fix their fares.

An ATOC spokeswoman says: “We are the voice of the passenger rail industry. We represent the interests of our members to government and key opinion formers.”