E-TICKETS


THE TWO MAIN SUPPLIERS OF RAIL BOOKING SYSTEMS, Evolvi and Thetrainline.com, both hope to make progress with e-ticketing this year. Evolvi – which works exclusively with travel management companies (TMCs) – increased transaction volume by 8 per cent in 2014 with a small decrease in average transaction value from £59.03 to £58.73, despite a 2.8 per cent average increase in fares, as regulated by the government. Trade relations director Jon Reeve says: “This proves that companies with a managed travel policy can contain costs. There is wider availability of advance first class fares encouraging people to trade up, and we have introduced a new tool permitting first class travel when cheaper than the standard class Anytime fare.” Plain paper ticketing is becoming more widespread, and he expects developments in mobile ticketing this year.


Hitachi’s Super Express trains are being imported from Japan, but will soon be manufactured in the UK


services provided by rail companies, 80 per cent of under-30s wanted to see free wifi, more power points, better catering, and business lounges both on board trains and in stations. The GTMC therefore sup- ports specific business class seats and an increase in first class carriages on the Super Express trains.” Andrew Dalton, senior programme manager at Carlson Wagonlit Travel, says having the same operator on these two main routes is “not ideal”, but points out: “The two routes are not really in competi- tion, as the cities they travel to offer very different business propositions. The Super Express trains are great news for travellers and train operators, with upgraded facili- ties and services, some reduced journey


86 BBT MARCH/APRIL 2015


times, and dual-powered units for greater flexibility across the rail network.”


PRESSURE ON AIRLINES A four-hour journey time between London and Edinburgh will put more pressure on airlines, especially when the train can offer an uninterrupted working envi- ronment. Virgin Trains has already shown that it can take market share away from airlines, dominating the London-Man- chester corridor and now making steady inroads into airlines’ share on London- Glasgow, where the typical journey time is four-and-a-half hours. More than three times the number of passengers travelled between London and Glasgow in 2014 than in 2009, and using


Thetrainline.com, which deals with corporates directly as well as TMCs, has been acquired by private equity firm KKR as it seeks to ramp up technological investment. It, too, saw a slight reduction in the average transaction value last year, to £57.94. Thetrainline.com’s commercial


director Ben Pearson says: “We are benefiting from emulating the best parts of our consumer website for corporates. There are really positive developments with e-ticketing, and we are conducting trials with flexible tickets being delivered this way.” Thetrainline.com claims that business travellers can save an average of 43 per cent by buying in advance rather than at the station on the day of travel. A walk-up Anytime standard class ticket from London to Manchester costs £164.50, but advance tickets are available from £35 slightly earlier in the morning peak.


BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM


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