ON THE GROUND ➔ All aboard for rail boom
RAIL TRAVEL looks set for an unprecedented era of growth, with passenger kilometres expected to double by 2035, according to Planning Ahead, a new industry report published in August. Congested roads and a desire
to be more environmentally friendly are among the driving factors for rail growth says the report, which was produced by Network Rail, the Association of Train Operating Companies and the Rail Freight Operators Association. While the London commuter market is expected to increase by 35 per cent, much higher growth figures are forecast for regional urban commuter markets, with cities such as Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Glasgow forecast to increase by more than 100 per cent. “Despite the tough economic times, we must continue to
NEW ONLINE RAIL RETAILER GOES LIVE
THERE'S a new online rail travel retailer in the market and it's called Red Spotted Hanky. The site has similar functionality and features to several existing rail retailers, but claims to simplify the process after its research found two- thirds of people surveyed found booking rail travel online too confusing. The website,
redspottedhanky.com, promises savings of up to 80 per cent on advance fares and no credit card fees, but really differentiates itself by offering loyalty points redeemable against further bookings. Says the website's Ursula Morgenstern, “Our research shows that making online train booking easier is critical if we are to encourage even more people to use rail. We also want to give something back to train travellers through our loyalty scheme and commitment to low pricing.“
Five minutes with... Jon Reeve
PROFILE
Trade Relations Director EVOLVI RAIL SYSTEMS
Jon's role is to maintain and support the relationships Evolvi has with its TMC customer base and their ultimate end user corporate clients. He also has an industry affairs brief with train operators and regulatory bodies such as ATOC/RSP. His employment history is entirely TMC based and now extends to 36 years in business travel.
plan for the future and look to how we affordably expand the railway to meet big increases in passengers and freight,“ says Paul Plummer, Network Rail's director of planning. “The railway is presently too expensive and must reduce its costs to ensure that the money it does invest delivers best possible value for Britain.“
Alec McTavish, ATOC's director of policy and operations adds, “Value for money for the taxpayer and the passenger needs to be at the heart of everything that we do. Train operators and Network Rail are working increasingly closely together to help plan the railway and identify ways to improve cost effectiveness.“
AVIS EXTENDS GREEN OPTIONS
What is your most memorable business travel trip and why? A fam trip that included Hong Kong, Osaka and Tokyo, many years ago. They're all fascinating destinations in their own right and so interesting in terms of cultural diversity. On the rail side of things, a highlight was a trip on the Shinkansen Bullet Train.
What is your worst business travel experience and why? When I got stuck in a tunnel on a train near Carlisle for four hours. There was no mobile signal and everyone was wondering where I was!
What is your favourite destination worldwide and why? Verona, Italy, because my wife’s Italian and comes from Lake Garda. The wine and food's not bad either...!
What three items do you never leave home without when on business? In addition to my BlackBerry and laptop, I always travel with a good book.
CAR rental company Avis has launched a new website designed to make it easier for corporate travel buyers to tackle their carbon emissions and CSR obligations. The new microsite, Making
the World a Little Greener, takes corporate users through ways in which they can reduce their impact on the environment, including details on Avis' fleet of green vehicles and information on how the company can measure emissions for a corporate’s entire rental account, and advise on how to offset the associated environmental impact. The company reports that
business customers are actively requesting lower emission cars such as its latest additions, the VW Bluemotion and BMW 1 Series and 3 Series (F,H and K groups) vehicles. Anthony Ainsworth, sales director of Avis UK says, “It seems that a commitment to the environment has not taken a back seat for businesses, despite the recession. Our environmental policy is incredibly important to potential customers, and why not? This will enable them to demonstrate a level of commitment that they can then relay to their employees and to their own customers.”
What single thing could be done to improve your business travelling life? Fast and reliable internet and email connectivity everywhere!
What destination would you like to visit next and why? That would be Moscow. I’ve never been there in all the years I’ve worked in business travel and I’d love to get a taste of the city.
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