Feature: Rail Travel
Eurostar
➔service from Birmingham New Street to London Euston. In comparison, Virgin’s first class fares are much more expensive, but it boasts a faster journey time and much higher frequency of three trains an hour on weekdays. John Davidson, Chiltern’s business and relationship manager, says: “We did a lot of customer research, and the consistent feed- back was that business travellers want extra space, but not to pay an extra £100 to get that along with a sandwich and some Pretzels. “We were also told we must categorise this
as standard class, so that travellers can remain within company policy,” says Davidson. The GTMC's Godfrey concurs: “Avoiding
use of the word 'first' while offering business services is a great way to keep travellers within policy, as with Eurostar’s Standard
Premier. I would expect other train operating companies to follow suit if they have a business market,” she says. Feedback to Chiltern’s new product has
been very positive, and over time it plans to introduce more trains of this standard. The operator feels its move “could signal the end of first class business travel across the industry,” and this is now a major debating point for the rail sector. Many standard class travellers have had the
bitter experience of having to stand while whole first class carriages in fixed formation trains are virtually empty. Most long-distance operators offer first class,
with Virgin, East Coast, First Great Western and National Express East Anglia having particularly generous provision. But is that
➔ CROSS-CHANNEL RAIL
Eurostar is making a £700million investment in its fleet which includes the complete overhaul and refurbishment of its existing trains and ten new e320 trains built by Siemens. When the refurbished and new trains come into operation in 2013 and 2014 respectively, customers will have access to high speed broadband internet on board. This will make Eurostar even more attractive
to business travellers, at a time when it plans to expand beyond its Paris and Brussels gateways with Amsterdam and Geneva being possible destinations. Meanwhile, German rail operator DB has confirmed plans to start operating from London starting in December 2013, with trains splitting in Brussels to reach Cologne in under four hours, Frankfurt in five hours and Amsterdam in four hours.
“Business travellers want more space, but not to pay an extra £100 to get that along with a sandwich and some Pretzels”
30 I THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE 18 I THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE
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