How the market has changed

摘要

In 2002, EWS had 80% of the charter market, the relative newcomer WCR had just 18% with Merlin Rail having 2%. There was a massive shift by 2005, with EWS down to 49%, WCR up to 40% and FM Rail (Merlin and Fragonset Railways merged) having 11%. Having peaked at 16% in 2006, FMR dropped to 10% in 2007 before the company went bust. Cotswold Rail entered the market in 2006 with 1% and had doubled its share to 2% the following year. 2006 was the year WCR overtook EWS as market leader, taking 43% of the market and EWS falling to 40%. The loss of FMR and Cotswold in 2008 saw the market mainly a two way split, with DRS, through the Stobart Pullman entering the fray in 2007 and reaching 3% market share in 2008 with WCR up to 51% and EWS up to 45%. Since then, WCR has continued to grow and by 2010 it had 57% of the market while DBS had 40%, GBRf 3% and DRS 1%.