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RAIL BOOKING


A REFORMED FARES SYSTEM WOULD MAKE THE MOST OF TECHNOLOGY


LIKE ONLINE ACCOUNTS, SMARTCARDS AND SMARTPHONES TO MAKE TICKET BUYING SIMPLER


THE TMC VIEWPOINT


In an ideal world, what would the rail booking process offer TMCs?


CHRIS VINCE, director of operations, Click Travel 1. A simplified fares structure: This would remove the need for split ticketing, which can save a lot of money, but it’s frustrating to have to do it. 2.Mobile ticketing: This needs to be available across all train operators and fares types, as you often have an m-ticket or e-ticket available only for one


operator on one journey. We need consistency, and it’s good to see it being worked on. 3. Flexibility on advance tickets: This would enable business travellers to change their route or get the next available train to the one booked if a meeting overruns. A standardisation of the off-peak rules would also help as the restrictions in and out of London vary according to routes and train operators.


JOSH COLLIER, head of proposition – rail & ground transportation, Capita Travel and Events 1. Delay Repay: Innovation is improving but there is still some way to go for the end user to be taking full advantage of improvements. Take third party Delay Repay schemes – innovators, such as Railguard, offer a solution that has caused some train opera- tors to decide not pay out to third parties. A customer


should be able to make a decision as to where they want compensation to be returned to. 2. Fit-for-purpose digital solution: This is required for e-ticketing or m-ticketing, and should be available on all ticket types, across all operators and that is easy to use, as a “one size fits all” solution. 3. Simplified fares: Having simplified fares would avoid split ticketing. Due to the complexity behind the RDG’s fares data (which is still working from old British Rail 1980s technology!), it is time to give customers back the confidence that the best fare for their journey has been achieved.


132 MAY/JUNE 2019 Steve Wakeland, executive chairman at


ITSO, says: “Today’s business traveller wants to be able to keep their tickets all in one place, without needing to carry a physical smartcard or paper ticket. Our plans to bring mobile ticketing to the UK’s rail network will enable passengers to immediately download their tickets on to their smartphone using Google Pay, tap the phone on the ticket reader and easily access the train.”


ACCESS ALL AREAS One train operator that has simplified ticketing and bookability is Heathrow Express, which is about to introduce dynamic pricing along with the launch of a new website, offering lower fares at less busy times. It works with Evolvi, Trainline and, through its own website, with TMCs directly. It can be set up to offer Heathrow Express on all Heathrow air bookings. The Heathrow Express API is used by, among others, Atriss, ClarityOne, Travelport, Amadeus, KDS, Aer Lingus, Rail Europe, Car Trawler and Mozio. It also works with airlines and their onboard wifi products so that customers can buy tickets while flying. TMCs can also book tickets on GDS as part of Access Rail and the UK’s first rail- fly partnership, designed for customers travelling between Heathrow and the west of England or Wales. Participating airlines include Avianca, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Oman Air, Royal Brunei, Saudia and Singapore Airlines.


Apps deliver a lot more than tickets to customers, however. GoMedia has launched the UK rail industry’s first real-time customer information tool on TransPennine Express, using live data to update customers on the status of their journeys.


buyingbusinesstravel.com C M Y CM MY CY CMY K


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