The Business Travel Magazine Rail Travel guide 2016

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.

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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

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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

the 2016 guide to rail travel

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

the 2016 guide to rail travel

Contents_Industry Overview_Industry Developments.indd 5

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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

Virgin-Advertorial.indd 6

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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

the 2016 guide to rail travel

Booking Channels.indd 10

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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

6/3/16 03:24 PM 15:14 10/02/2016 15:10

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