The 2016 guide to
RAIL TRAVEL
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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
The 2016 guide to
RAIL TRAVEL
Steaming ahead Welcome to the Business travel Magazine’s first standalone guide to rail travel, an in-depth guide to the industry together with advice on how best to manage your company’s rail travel needs
WRITER
Dave Richardson EDITOR
Andy Hoskins andy.hoskins@thebusinesstravelmag.com
M
SENIOR SALES MANAGER
Craig McQuinn craig.mcquinn@thebusinesstravelmag.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Steve Hartridge
DESIGNER
Zoe Tarrant PRODUCTION MANAGER
buying process. But despite decades of investment
images of the past, and are now struggling to cope with continuous passenger growth leading to overcrowded trains and creaking infrastructure. Major projects such as electrification of key routes and the development of Crossrail and HS2 are promising developments, but one thing that remains a sticking point is the lack of competition on the tracks. Privatisation was completed about 20 years ago, but one of the greatest weaknesses of the franchise system we have today is that it does not allow for any meaningful competition.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Matt Bonner
and more are making rail a fully managed part of the
Britain’s railways have not shaken off some of the negative
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
David Clare david.clare@thebusinesstravelmag.com
ore businesses are using rail travel than ever before,
You can’t go to a major rail station and expect a choice of carrier, as you do at a major airport. But that is exactly what the Competition and Markets Authority is now demanding, following calls from the business travel industry, among others. The vast majority of train operators are franchised by the
Clare Hunter PRODUCTION CONTROLLER
Department for Transport, and those operating the most
Steve Hunter
lucrative inter-city routes have to pay hefty premiums to the
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Martin Steady
THE 2016 GUIDE TO RAIL TRAVEL IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY BMI PUBLISHING, PRODUCERS OF THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE. (PRINT) ISSN 1754-8543. BMI PUBLISHING LTD SUFFOLK HOUSE, GEORGE STREET, CROYDON, SURREY, CR9 1SR, UK T: 020 8649 7233 E: ENQUIRIES@BMIPUBLISHING.CO.UK BMIPUBLISHING.CO.UK ALL PAPER USED IN THIS PUBLICATION IS SOURCED FROM SUSTAINABLE FORESTS AND IS FULLY RECYCLABLE. WHILE EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE ACCURACY, BMI PUBLISHING LTD CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS. ©BMI PUBLISHING LTD 2016
government – £2.3billion by the end of its franchise in 2023, in the case of Virgin Trains East Coast. Those premiums would have to fall if a competitor was allowed in, but the CMA was heedful of this when calling for ‘multiple licensed operators’ in March this year. It says that the potential for competition exists on the three main inter-city routes – the East Coast and West Coast main lines and the Great Western network, which account for over 90 million passenger journeys per year. ‘Open Access’ operators would pay more in track access
3 An industry overview The franchise status quo and future network investment
6 Managing rail travel How to get corporate rail travel under control
8 Onboard product What operators are doing to woo business travellers
10 Corporate booking tools The tools that help users secure the best fares
13 European rail travel The case for cross-channel rail travel – and beyond
14 Ticketing developments The humble paper ticket lives on, but for how long?
charges and through a levy to help fund unprofitable, mainly rural services, to make up the shortfall compared to the existing franchise monopoly. CMA Chief Executive, Alex Chisholm, says: “We’ve found that there is strong evidence, both here and abroad, of the benefits that competition on inter-city routes can bring. The need to attract passengers who have a choice can mean lower fares, new routes and destinations, more innovations and flexible ticketing. Not only does this offer a better deal for existing
IMAGES: SOURCED FROM SUPPLIERS AND BIGSTOCKPHOTO.COM
travellers but it can increase overall passenger numbers by attracting new customers to the railways. “The timing is undoubtedly right to push for change. We hope all those involved with the future of the rail network will look
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Contents_Industry Overview_Industry Developments.indd 3
THE 2016 GUIDE TO RAIL TRAVEL
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industry overview
good use of Advance first class fares. Competition could change everything, and could lead to the introduction of corporate rates.” Industry investment A few years ago the coalition government announced what it claimed to be the biggest investment in rail since Victorian times, and while none of these projects has been dropped, the timetable for delivering them has been pushed back. Electrification of the Great Western routes, meaning more efficiency and carbon savings but only modest reductions in
“A whole tranche of younger business travellers may not own a car and it is this age group that is driving demand for rail travel”
journey times, won’t now reach at our report carefully and seize the opportunity.” And progress has already
all the investment being made in
Bristol, Cardiff and Oxford until
rail, we must have a competitive
at least 2019, and probably later.
marketplace and we will keep this subject high-profile in the
Manchester) and Midland
regulator the Office of Rail and
government’s mind.
Main Line (London-Sheffield)
Road (ORR) approving the
“Some train operators,
routes are also facing delays
launch of FirstGroup services
including Virgin, have done
to electrification, due to be
on the East Coast main line.
great things that must be
completed by 2022 and 2023
The operator intends to launch
applauded. The risk to the
respectively. Electrification
low-priced services between
government is that rail
projects under way in Scotland
London and Edinburgh from
franchises, like Air Passenger
include the main route between
2021, going head-to-head with
Duty, are easy money.”
Edinburgh and Glasgow, and
Virgin Trains, whose franchise on the route runs to 2023.
from both cities to Stirling. Modal shift
The biggest project currently
More competition leading to
underway is Crossrail, the new
Access all areas
lower fares and higher service
east-west route under central
Representing business travel
standards could increase
London which is due to open
agencies in the UK, the GTMC
“modal shift” from air to rail
between the end of 2018 and
has been pushing for more
travel in advance of high-speed
middle of 2019.
Open Access operators for the
line HS2 opening in 2026,
last couple of years, following
according to Wait.
Dubbed the Elizabeth Line, Crossrail can accommodate
the success of Grand Central
“The frequent business
and First Hull Trains that offer
traveller of ten years ago is
passengers operating every
limited competition to Virgin on
not necessarily the frequent
few minutes. It will run from
the East Coast route.
business traveller of today,”
GTMC Chief Executive, Paul
he explains. “A whole tranche
Wait, says: “Whether we are
of younger business travellers
talking about rail or air, a monopoly usually means that things deteriorate.
4
The Trans-Pennine (York-
been made, in fact, with
trains carrying up to 1,500
may not own a car and it is this age group driving demand for rail. They want to be online constantly and that is possible on trains, meaning you are
But to
more productive. This age
make the
group wants first class travel to
most of
be able to work, and is making
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Contents_Industry Overview_Industry Developments.indd 4
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INdustry overview
Reading to Whitechapel, with
Airport, 1h 08m to central
Leeds would be cut to about 30
branches to Shenfield in Essex
Manchester (a 60 minute
minutes but completion of HS3
and Abbey Wood in south-east
saving) and 1h 23m to Leeds
would be in the distant future.
London, via Canary Wharf,
(a 50 minute reduction).
and will also serve Heathrow.
The trains – each carrying
Serving Heathrow would encourage many more
Heathrow to Canary Wharf will
up to 1,100 passengers and
passengers off domestic
take 40 minutes; Paddington to
travelling at up to 250 mph –
flights and help the carbon
Canary Wharf, just 17 minutes.
will also serve cities beyond
saving agenda. Ben Leigh,
HS2, including Newcastle
client solutions specialist at
Speeding things up
(2h 19m, a 33 minute saving)
Diversity Travel, says: “It will
Construction of HS2, the
and Glasgow (3h 38m, a 30
be interesting to monitor the
controversial high-speed line
minute saving).
impact that infrastructure
leading north from London
But there has been outrage
developments will have on
(HS1 is the existing line from
that HS2 will not include a
London to the Channel Tunnel)
branch to Heathrow, but only
should finally start in 2017, with
an interchange for the airport
sations in the charity and not-
a projected completion date of
in west London. Nor are there
for-profit sectors, we have seen
2026 as far as Birmingham.
any plans at present to link it
an increase in clients choosing
with HS1 to enable high-speed
rail. Many have specific targets
open in 2027, with the lines to
trains from north of the capital
in terms of carbon reduction,
Leeds and Manchester due by
to reach the continent.
and are already choosing to
The route north to Crewe will
2033 including new stations
The 2016 Budget approved
in the East Midlands and at
studies for a line dubbed HS3
Sheffield Meadowhall.
to connect Northern cities from
Projected journey times from
travel behaviour. “As we work with organi-
travel by Eurostar to European destinations. Leigh adds: “We may find
west to east, and for ‘Crossrail
this trend crossing over, with
London include 49 minutes
2’ between north-east and
internal and short-haul flights
to Birmingham (a 30 minute
south-west London. Journey
and car hire being displaced by
saving), 1h 03m to Manchester
times from Manchester to
high-speed rail.”
Below left: London King’s Cross station Above: A productive environment is crucial for business travellers
THE train operators Who DOES what
“There has been outrage that HS2 will not include a branch to Heathrow and instead only an interchange for the airport in West London”
Abellio Greater Anglia: October 2016 ↸ Abellio London-Norwich; Stansted Express; East Anglia
Grand Central: Open Access operator ↸ Arriva London to Bradford, York and Sunderland
Arriva Trains Wales: October 2018 ↸ Arriva most services within Wales, and to Birmingham and Manchester
Great Northern: September 2021 ↸ Govia Thameslink Railway, part of Go-Ahead Group London to Cambridge and King’s Lynn; local services around London
C2C: November 2029 ↸ National Express Group London to Essex Caledonian Sleeper: March 2030 ↸ Serco overnight services from London to Scotland Chiltern Railways: December 2021 ↸ Arriva London to Aylesbury, Oxford and Birmingham CrossCountry: November 2019 ↸ Arriva Birmingham to the South West, South Coast, Cardiff, Nottingham, Stansted, Manchester, Leeds, the North East and Scotland East Midlands Trains: October 2017 ↸ Stagecoach London to Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield; Norwich to Liverpool First Hull Trains: Open Access operator ↸ FirstGroup London to Hull First TransPennine Express: April 2023 ↸ FirstGroup Liverpool and Manchester Airport to Yorkshire and the North East; Manchester Airport to Glasgow and Edinburgh; Manchester to Hull and Cleethorpes
Great Western Railway: April 2019 ↸ FirstGroup London to the West Country, South Wales and Cotswolds; regional services in the South West; local services in the Thames Valley Heathrow Express: Non-franchised operator ↸ Heathrow Airport Holdings London to Heathrow Airport London Midland: June 2017 ↸ Joint venture between Govia and Keolis London to Birmingham and Crewe; Birmingham to Liverpool; West Midlands London Overground: November 2016 ↸ Joint venture between Arriva and MTR Corporation local services on behalf of Transport for London Merseyrail: July 2028 ↸ Joint venture between Abellio and Serco Local services around Liverpool
Southeastern: June 2018 ↸ Joint venture between Govia and Keolis London to Kent; local services around London Southern: September 2021 ↸ Govia Thameslink Railway London to Brighton and the South coast; Gatwick Express; local services around London South West Trains: June 2017 ↸ Stagecoach London to the South Coast and Exeter; local services around London Thameslink: September 2021 ↸ Govia Thameslink Railway Bedford to Brighton via Gatwick Airport, Central London and Luton Airport Virgin Trains: November 2017 ↸ Virgin (51%) and Stagecoach (49%) London to the West Midlands, North West, North Wales and Scotland; Birmingham to Scotland Virgin Trains East Coast: March 2023 ↸ Stagecoach (90%) and Virgin (10%) London to Peterborough, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness
Northern: April 2025 ↸ Arriva Local and regional services across the North
key
ScotRail: March 2025 ↸ Abellio Most services within Scotland
↸ Operator owner
Franchise expiry date Main operating routes
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m a n a g i n g r a i l t r av e l
Doing the business Businesses might be hard-pressed to secure negotiated rates with operators, but travel managers can at least seek soft benefits and influence booking behaviour
“Discounts are very rarely offered in return for volume, although ‘soft’ benefits such as lounge access, wifi access or refreshment vouchers can sometimes be negotiated”
F
or companies and TMCs
only be available in the middle
Desirable developments
used to the corporate
of the day or at weekends.
Capita Travel and Events feels
rates and loyalty schemes
frequent business travellers
offered by airlines and hotels,
agement is calling for better
deserve more recognition
dealing with train operators
dialogue with train operators,
from train operators. Head
may come as a shock.
especially on issues such as
of Auxiliary Partnerships and
promotional fares that are
Innovation, Raj Sachdave, says:
only available through their
“We would like to see a business
although ‘soft’ benefits
own websites and not through
travel charter built into train
can sometimes be
business booking channels such
franchises that is consistent
as Evolvi or Trainline.
across all operators. Business
Discounts are very rarely offered in return for volume,
negotiated such as lounge access, free wifi
Will Hasler, Chairman of the
travellers need consistency and
or refreshment vouchers for
ITM’s Industry Affairs group,
acknowledgment that they need
standard class passengers.
says: “Deals are few and far
to work.”
Operators use yield
between because there is no
He adds: “Things like real-time
management systems to
real competition between
information on a journey should
determine the availability
train operators. Virgin Trains’
be the same on all train
of Advance fares on high-
Traveller Club is the only loyalty
operators, so we can enhance
density business routes
scheme of note.
communication with customers.”
linking London with key
6
The Institute of Travel Man-
“Anything operators do to
cities and/or regional hubs
encourage direct booking will
The bigger picture
with each other. But when
upset us as compliance with
Capita encourages businesses
trains are running at near
travel policy is often quite fragile
to consider rail by looking at
capacity, Advance fares may
at some companies.”
the entire journey from door to
the 2016 guide to rail travel
Managing rail travel.indd 6
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m a n a g i n g r a i l t r av e l
door – including station parking,
is uncertainty about when a
timings and productivity – when
meeting will finish.
comparing rail travel with air and private car options. The carbon saving agenda has
WLG, says: “We have changed
benefited rail at the expense of
our travel policy so that you
other modes, although it slipped
must buy Advance fares for the
down the agenda during the
outbound journey. As a result,
recession.
they now account for 37% rather
But HRG’s Global Director of
“We have changed our travel policy so that you must buy Advance fares for the outbound journey. As a result, they now account for 37% rather than 16% of our rail spend”
Phil Youster, Travel Manager at Birmingham legal firm Gowling
than 16% of our rail spend. But
Supplier and Industry Affairs,
availability of Advance fares
Paul Dear, believes the time
is getting tighter, and that is
is right for rail to re-state its
frustrating.”
case. “With wifi on many inter-
But Virgin Trains’ Head of
city trains and also coming to
Sales, Mandy Robinson, says
airlines very quickly, the rail
availability of Advance fares has
industry needs a new selling
never been better. “Advance
message about what is the next
fares are encouraging people to
big thing to drive modal shift,”
be more flexible, and promo-
he says. “As PLCs will soon need
tional fares are dropped in
to demonstrate carbon savings
and out of booking systems to
in their annual reports, that is
TMCs. We meet regularly with
another opportunity for rail.”
corporate clients and TMCs and our Virgin Traveller loyalty
Booking habits
scheme is available to them.”
Dear adds that some companies
Reduced journey times,
are still not taking advantage
meanwhile, have also attracted
of Advance tickets. Organising
more business travellers on to
meetings to start later in the
longer routes and Virgin Trains’
morning can lead to major
share of passengers compared
savings in rail fares, while an
to airlines stands at about 25%
Anytime return ticket can
to/from Glasgow and 33% to/
still be booked when there
from Edinburgh.
Advance bookings: savings to be made operator
ROUTE
JOURNEY TIME
advance fare
anytime fare
Virgin Trains
Birmingham New Street to London Euston
1h 25m
Standard class: £134.50 First class: £175.50
Standard class: £170 First class: £238
London Midland
Birmingham New Street to London Euston
2h 15m
Standard class: £36 First class: £56
Standard class: £118 First class: £128
Chiltern Railways
Birmingham Snow Hill to London Marylebone
1h 43m
Standard class: £80 Business Zone upgrades available
Standard class: £134 Business Zone upgrades available
London Kings Cross to Leeds
2h 15m
Standard class: £115 First class: £173
Standard class: £224 First class: £368
2h 30m
Standard class: £134.50 First class: £170
Standard class: £134.50 First class: £170
BIRMINGHAM TO LONDON
LONDON TO LEEDS Virgin Trains East Coast
MANCHESTER TO NEWCASTLE First TransPennine Express
Manchester Piccadilly to Newcastle
The National Rail database (as used by all booking channels) was searched seven days in advance for midweek travel, outbound at about 06.45 returning at 16.45. There is competition on only one route, and in all cases major savings could be made by booking in advance, with Advance first class fares often lower than the Anytime standard class fares.
Left: First Hull Trains Above from top: Southeastern services; Stansted Express; Virgin’s new Azuma trains will take to its East Coast network from 2018
the 2016 guide to rail travel
Managing rail travel.indd 7
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Onboard product
Working hard Train operating companies are upping their game when it comes to onboard product, with a particular focus on making business travel more productive Birmingham-based legal firm Gowling WLG spends £1.4million a year on rail travel, and £1million of that is spent on the Birmingham-London route. Its Travel Manager, Phil Youster, says:
“Business travellers want a reliable service and a seat they can work in. Some operators are very good at delivering that but franchises need to be longer to encourage more investment”
“Chiltern’s Business Zone is very good, but with limited availability and it’s often busy. Frequency is also an issue when Virgin has trains every 20 minutes on a parallel route. Virgin has never seen Chiltern as a competitor, but 10% of our business now goes to Chiltern.” Nick Hurrell, a consultant with
O
n main inter-city routes
it’s not always free. Virgin Trains
travellers want a reliable service
the rail experience has
recently took things further with
and a seat they can work in.
improved greatly over
the launch of a complimentary
Some operators are very good
the last few years, especially for
onboard entertainment service
but franchises need to be longer
those able to travel first class.
called BEAM, enabling passen-
to encourage investment.”
The experience is not just about punctuality, journey times and the onboard environment,
gers to stream films and TV through their own devices. Powerpoints provided at seats
Andrew Dalton, Senior Programme Manager at Carlson Wagonlit Travel, adds: “The
but also about how you use
are also increasingly common,
need for business travellers
your time on the journey.
but the need to increase seating
to work and communicate
capacity means there are fewer
efficiently, comfortably and
and a wide variety of routes and
seats at tables – typically the
reliably while on the move is
stations, there is of course no
preferred option for laptop-
growing, and reliable and fast
wielding business travellers.
wifi access is now expected as
With over 20 train operators
consistency. First class on one operator may bear no
Despite wide availability of
relation to first class on
Advance fares, first class can
another, and may also
still be expensive and may be
vary with the type of
forbidden by travel policy. So
train used by the same
it is perhaps surprising that no
operator – Great
other train operator has yet
Western Railway or Virgin Trains, for example. The provision of wifi at stations and onboard is
the norm.”
followed the lead of Chiltern Trains, which has a Business Zone carriage on key London to Birmingham services.
gathering pace and is now
Essentially, it is first class
offered by most inter-city
without the frills and offers a
operators and a growing
comfortable working environ-
number of regional
ment for a supplement of £25
operators too, although
8
3Sixty Global, says: “Business
on the standard class fare.
Top: Operators are under pressure to invest in new products; Above: New First Class seats from Virgin Trains East Coast
the 2016 guide to rail travel
Onboard Product.indd 8
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A DV E RTO R I A L
Be Bound for
GLORY Travel from city to city in style on Virgin Trains. To book tickets, contact your travel management company or visit virgintrains.com Virgin Train’s city-to-city network operating
key destinations offering complimentary
on the West Coast mainline offers more
refreshments and wifi, along with a dedicated
productive travel time on trips into the heart
business area to help travellers stay on grid.
of any city on its network and, with First Class
Once onboard, First Class customers enjoy
services offering free wifi and work space,
extra legroom, complimentary food and
they’re the best way to travel for business.
drink with at-seat service, free wifi access,
Virgin Trains’ long-standing West Coast operation covers routes from London to
power sockets and lots of table seats. Virgin Trains has your business travel
Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow,
needs covered between London, the Midlands,
Edinburgh and many more stations besides.
the North and Scotland, and rest assured
The operation offers faster services and a
customers will experience the same great
better environment in which to work – which
services and friendly faces – not forgetting
means a more enjoyable and productive
that touch of Virgin flair – which they’ve grown
alternative to travelling by air or road.
to expect across the expanded network.
Unlike travelling by air, Virgin Trains take
So, travel in both comfort and style, whether
customers straight from the heart of one city
it’s on your way to win new business, deliver
to the centre of another, enabling passengers
a major presentation or seeking your next big
to get stuck into the working day.
sale – Virgin Trains will make sure you get there
Waste no time in tedious queues and make the most of the journey with Virgin Trains; use
at your best and, ultimately, be bound for glory. www.virgintrains.com
the time to get through reams of work or simply take in the views. Without the stress of check-in and traffic jams, you’ll get there at your best. Virgin Trains’ First Class service takes things to another level, with lounges at
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b o o k i n g to o l s
Fare deals The technology behind corporate rail booking tools is advancing rapidly, with more functionality and a wider range of content than ever before
“Split ticketing generates a lot of noise but there are practical issues, such as having to change seat and possibly different validity periods for the two tickets”
O
nline self-booking tools
pre-trip authorisation on a cost
outward trip. Automated refunds
for British rail services
basis – above the set amount,
have also been well received,
developed by Evolvi,
approval must be sought before
and can be actioned either by
Trainline, Click Travel and
booking. It can also be tailored
the traveller or the TMC,” says
others deliver a high level of
to allow first class travel when
Jon Reeve, Evolvi’s Trade
sophistication and control to
against policy if the Advance
Relations Director.
users, with many built-in policy
first class fare is lower than the
tools helping ensure that users
Anytime standard class tariff.
ticketing’, whereby you might
follow the rules.
Transactions through Evolvi
save money booking between
were up 6.8% in 2015 to over
two cities using two tickets for
7.8 million, confirming its
each journey via an intermediate
journeys available
position as the UK’s market
point, but Reeve cautions
through GDS, while
leader in online agency rail
against it. “This generates a lot
online booking for
booking and ticketing.
of noise but there are practical
Amadeus is leading the way in making international rail
Europe is about to get a boost.
Interestingly, the average
issues, such as having to change
transaction value of tickets
seat and possibly different
Evolvi, the system
continues to fall, from £59.03
validity periods for the two
adopted by the vast
in 2013 to £58.87 in 2015, and
tickets,” he says.
majority of TMCs and
that’s in spite of year-on-year
by their customers
increases in fares.
using self-booking
Booking barriers
“This shows that people are
Nick Hurrell, a consultant with
booking wisely, and Advance
3Sixty Global, says: “The main
and customised for the end
fares are continuing to grow in
online booking systems work
user. Recent innovations include
popularity, especially for the
well, but their inability to handle
tools, can be refined
10
Click Travel enables ‘split
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b o o k i n g to o l s
split ticketing is the only area of
offers 18 rail and bus operators
mild frustration.”
across 26 countries.
Will Hasler, Chairman of the
of Rail and Ground Travel, says:
adds: “Virgin is driving the
“All the main European
agenda on automatic refunds for
operators are available via our
delayed journeys, but this is only
rail platform: SNCF (including,
available to people booking
Eurostar, Thalys, TGV Lyria and
direct on their app or website,
the Renfe/SNCF cross-border
and not through business
service), Trenitalia (including
booking channels.
Thello), Deutsche Bahn and SJ
“Many people book rail through self-booking tools such as
“The proliferation of high-speed routes in Europe and increasing focus on environmental responsibility mean business people are taking rail journeys of up to four or five hours and being more productive compared to flying”
Thomas Drexler, its Director
ITM’s Industry Affairs group,
and MTR Express in Sweden. “Overall we work with around
GetThere or KDS, but they are
90 rail operators, and with
airline-centric. Because rail
Amadeus Selling Platform you
seems to be an afterthought,
can easily add an airport express
booking is rather clunky.”
train ticket while booking a flight, with Heathrow Express
Going continental
first to implement this.”
Trainline for Business is another key player in the UK market with
Calculating the benefits
major TMCs and corporate
SilverRail is a leading technology
clients, and now it is moving into
supplier connecting corporate
Europe having acquired Captain
and leisure travel arrangers with
Train, a leading online rail retailer
rail operators, with more than 30
on the continent. The two
corporate travel management
businesses provide access to 36
customers including Egencia,
operators in 22 countries.
Orbitz and GetThere. It also
Alidad Moghaddam, European
supplies the booking engine for
Director of Trainline for Business,
Go Ahead group in the UK,
says: “European expansion is the
which operates Thameslink &
natural place to think about, as
Great Northern, Southern,
European rail still needs a
Southeastern, Gatwick Express
one-stop shop. The proliferation
and London Midland.
of high-speed routes in Europe
SilverRail’s Rail Benefits
and environmental responsibility
Calculator helps corporate
mean business people are taking
bookers and travel managers to
rail journeys of up to four or five
determine the impact on their
hours, and being more
business, employees and the
productive compared to flying.”
environment of travelling by
Trainline believes easier
rail instead of air, comparing
booking will attract many more
monetary savings, carbon
UK passengers to European rail
dioxide emissions, journey times
travel, and it is prepared to go
and productivity.
into partnership with a GDS as it does in the UK. The All Ways Travelling
Ami Taylor, Global Travel Management and Account Development Director at
consortium, led by Amadeus and
SilverRail, says: “The calculations
appointed by the European
present a ground-breaking tool
Commission, is developing
for travel buyers and travel
seamless multi-modal travel
managers, enabling them to
across Europe by air, rail and
assess rail on all levels. The
urban transport.
calculator really is a great way to
Amadeus has a strong
determine what a difference rail
commitment to integrating air
can make to companies, and the
and ground travel, and now
world we live.”
Above from top: Heathrow Express tickets are now available through Amadeus Selling Platform; a new look for Great Western Railway; friendly service from ScotRail
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E u r o p e a n r a i l t r av e l
Channel crossings Considerably more passengers take to the train than board a plane when travelling to Paris and Brussels, but will corporates adopt cross-Channel rail travel for more distant destinations?
W
ith Eurostar postponing launch of direct London-
Amsterdam trains until an unknown date in 2017 and still no news on Deutsche Bahn’s plans for direct trains from London to Cologne and Frankfurt, business travellers starting their journey in the UK
“Many corporates have a focus on rail travel between European cities up to about three hours, but because we live on an island we often don’t consider rail travel across borders”
are still rarely travelling beyond Brussels or Paris without changing trains. The good news for business travellers is that Eurostar will step up refurbishment of existing trains in 2016 and introduce more new e320 trains
reason why there shouldn’t be
services direct to Amsterdam
which have the capability of
competition on routes to
will be very attractive to
operating beyond France or
Europe but Deutsche Bahn,
business travellers. Wifi
Belgium, but are also boosting
which would have served
connectivity means passengers
capacity on London-Paris.
Brussels, has gone very quiet.
can enjoy a productive four-
Eurostar dominates the
Many people use Eurostar
hour journey from city centre to
London-Paris/Brussels business
from London, but our research
city centre. This will provide a
markets with a share of around
has shown people would travel
real alternative if the pricing is
70% compared to 30% for
from the North and Midlands if
competitive and can only be a
airlines, but whether business
HS2 is connected to HS1 via the
positive for our customers.”
travellers can be attracted to
Channel Tunnel.”
Amsterdam or other cities
Will Hasler, Chairman of the
When they get underway, Eurostar’s Amsterdam services
reachable in about four hours
ITM’s Industry Affairs group,
will operate via Brussels and will
is open to question.
adds: “Many corporates have a
also serve Antwerp, Rotterdam
But UK business travellers are
focus on rail travel between
and Schiphol airport.
taking to high-speed rail travel
European cities up to about
in Europe, even if they fly in.
three hours, but because we live
France, Germany, Spain and
on an island we often don’t
Italy have highly developed
consider rail travel across
high-speed networks, while
international borders.
airports including Paris CDG, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Zurich are linked directly to inter-city rail services. The GTMC’s Chief Executive, Paul Wait, says: “There is no
“A competitive situation would drive things forward. It’s good to see Eurostar bringing on new trains, but that would have happened ten years ago if it didn’t have a monopoly.” Andrew Dalton, Senior Programme Manager at Carlson Wagonlit Travel, adds: “Eurostar
Top: Eurostar will launch services from London to Amsterdam in 2017; Above: A Eurostar Business Premier lounge
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Ticketing
Tickets to ride The humble paper ticket seems archaic in a world of smartphones and wearable devices, but mobile ticketing is now at least making inroads Capita Travel and Events’ Raj Sachdave adds: “The rail industry really does need to be digitalised. Queuing at a station ticket machine was acceptable a few years ago, but with more people travelling and more junior business travellers coming through the ranks, it has become
“People want the same ticketing experience travelling by rail as they have with air. Collecting tickets at a station machine or from a ticket printer on a corporate’s premises both incur a cost”
frustrating.” Trainline says that 30% of UK rail routes accept mobile tickets, and it is working with operators including Virgin, Greater Anglia, Northern and others to reach 50% penetration by the end of
T
Trials have shown that mobile
corporates want to see in
ticketing is in great demand, but
Manchester, where one in five
rail travel is the adoption
train operators must invest in
passengers chose a mobile
of mobile ticketing, which has
barcode readers at electronic
ticket. And in a survey of
been introduced piecemeal by
gates and on board trains.
Trainline customers, nearly
train operators and is usually restricted to Advance tickets.
Evolvi has welcomed Virgin’s move, with Trade Relations
for January was London to
two-thirds favoured buying via smartphone over paper tickets.
This is changing, however, as a
Director, Jon Reeve, saying: “It’s
Alidad Moghaddam, European
requirement for mobile ticketing
early days, but people want the
Director of Trainline for Business,
is built into new franchise
same ticketing experience
says: “This is a hassle-free
awards. Ahead of bidding to
travelling by rail as with air.
solution on our leisure app and a
renew its own West Coast
Collecting tickets at a station
core focus is to make it available
franchise from 2017, Virgin
machine, or from a ticket printer
to business customers. They
Trains has launched ‘m-tickets’
on a corporate’s premises, both
have the same need for
on all routes. They are currently
incur a cost. We have already
convenience and flexibility, but
available through Virgin’s own
deployed mobile ticketing but
also travel policy tools.”
direct channels and through the
take-up hasn’t been huge, and
Evolvi booking platform used by
it’s mainly by people booking
many TMCs.
while out and about.”
“This is an industry first, and we
14
2016. The highest volume route
he biggest improvement
Buyers also welcome Virgin’s
hope to make Anytime tickets
move, with Phil Youster, Travel
available through m-ticketing
Manager at Gowling WLG,
soon,” says Virgin Trains’ Head
saying: “Surely this can be
of Sales, Mandy Robinson. “We
extended to Anytime tickets. We
don’t yet have the mechanism to
already have print-at-home
refund Anytime fares, and we
tickets, but our lawyers are too
need to be absolutely clear that
busy to do that and may end up
an Anytime m-ticket has not
buying a full-price replacement
already been used.”
ticket at the station.”
Top: Going mobile with Chiltern Railways Above: First TransPennine Express
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Get in touch If you would like to learn more or arrange for a demonstration of the season ticket management portal, please contact us
paul.martin@abellio.com
0845 437 9776 Untitled-2 1 YN0059 Abellio Rail Guide 2016 Advert.indd 1
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