11 March 2008

Rail starting to overtake air for European business travel

Rail is fast overtaking air as the preferred method of travel for business travellers in the UK and Europe, according to new research.

Rail bookings lead by as much as 74% versus air sales for travel between London and Leeds.

Other popular routes show a similar growth in popularity for rail travel, with sales between London and Newcastle leading by 22%, and London and Paris by 30%, according to the research conducted by Carlson Wagonlit Travel

The travel management company has also conducted research into the potential cost savings for customers.

If booked on the day of travel, a first class ticket between London and Manchester can cost up to Ã&#pound;360, but when booked a day in advance the cost is Ã&#pound;175.50 ââ¬' a saving of Ã&#pound;184.50.

CWT director of public sector UK Nigel Turner said: ââ¬ÅâœRail can be an expensive form of travel based on existing traveller buying behaviour.

"Current buying patterns do not lend themselves to travellers being able to quickly assimilate the wide range of fare and travel information available, and they often don't have the time to weigh-up cost implications as long as the "expenses" safety net is in place.

"By contacting their travel management company, even with only 24 hours notice in advance of travel in many cases, travellers and their employers could be making huge savings."

He added: "The opening of St Pancras in November means that business travellers in the UK now have a direct link to Europeââ¬â¢s high speed rail network, and for European travellers a quicker connection into central London.

"Whilst it seems obvious that this alone will positively impact on rail versus air bookings between the UK and the rest of Europe, it appears that there is a growing preference for domestic rail travel ââ¬' driving this trend are issues of emissions, security and baggage versus airlines, improved rail services and reliability, and even price where business travellers have wised up to the savings that can be made with a bit of advance planning.

"This includes addressing the many misconceptions that exist about buying rail tickets, such as the common misunderstanding that advance purchasing must mean buying tickets at least two weeks in advance.

"This is not the case, although availability of low fares will be better the sooner you book, many advance purchase fares are available up until 18.00 the day before travel."

by Phil Davies 

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• Railway fares
  
  

  As big a fan of the rail network as I am. I can not buy a ticket to travel to Exeter at the August Bank Hoilday weekend until mid-May. This is very busy travel period and I need to make arrangements now not sometime in May. So for business it may work but for us going to a wedding it looks like I shall have to drive!

  By Paul Johnston, Wednesday, March 12, 2008