The Jungfrau Railway Group achieved a traffic income of 121.5 million francs in the 2014 business year, the same as the previous year.
Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe
In 2014, for the first time over 850,000 guests travelled to Europe's highest-altitude railway station. Excursion traffic to the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe continues to benefit from rising demand from Asia. 866,000 people visited the Jungfraujoch, representing an increase of 5.2 percent over the previous year and the best result in its history. Traffic income recorded a plus of 1.8 per cent. The fact that Jungfrau Railways has intensively cultivated the Asian market and been able to further strengthen the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe brand has clearly paid off.
Winter sport
The result for the Jungfrau Ski Region fell below average from the beginning of 2014 to the end of season in spring 2014. The drop in revenue was in particular due to the declining number of holiday guests. The 2014/15 winter season was also faced with a difficult start due to unfavourable weather conditions. Thanks to powerful snowmaking equipment, it was possible, for Jungfrau Railways to open many of the facilities in its Kleine Scheidegg area from mid-December 2014 and provide runs with good conditions. The Jungfrau Ski Region is a cooperative product in which the Jungfrau Railway Group holds more than a 60% share. In 2014, fewer than one million skier visits were recorded for the first time. Traffic income in the winter-sport business segment fell by 2.2 million francs, equivalent to a minus of 9 per cent.
Experience mountains
In the experience mountains business segment, which comprises excursion traffic to the Harder Kulm, First and Winteregg-Mürren, the Jungfrau Railway Group recorded consistently good results. From 1 January to 31 December 2014, the Harder Railway increased its traffic income by 13.7 per cent. The First Aerial Cableway achieved an increase in revenue of 5.3 per cent. The Lauterbrunnen-Mürren Rail and Cableway achieved a growth in traffic income of 8.1 per cent. Overall, traffic income for the experience mountains segment increased by 7.5 percent, setting a new record.
Prospects for 2015
The start of 2015 has proved a success. Up to 15 February 2015, the Jungfraujoch showed an increase in visitor numbers of 16.2 percent compared to the previous year. The development in the euro exchange rate will present a challenge for the Jungfrau Railway Group. It is not anticipated that winter business will be greatly affected in the short term, however delayed effects will be felt. The diversification of the business sectors and continuing intensive cultivation of the Asian markets give Jungfrau Railways confidence in regard to summer business.
To combat the downward trend in winter sport and the difficult exchange-rate situation, Jungfrau Railways are focusing on a continued increase in quality. With the planned V-Cableway project, travel times will be considerably reduced and a direct public-transport link, a terminal with shops and ski storage areas and facilities meeting international standards created.
