Business travellers are increasingly choosing trains: BCD Travel reveals why!
A recent study by BCD Travel reveals that business travellers in Europe and Asia are increasingly favouring train travel over other modes of transport – primarily due to the central location of stations, ease of travel and the ability to work en route.
Habits and preferences
The survey was conducted among 681 business travellers who had travelled by train at least once in the past year. The results show that six out of ten respondents plan to make as many train journeys as they did last year, while 18 per cent expect to travel even more.
Three key reasons why travellers choose trains are:
- Easy access to the bus stop (49%)
- comfort and practicality (46%)
- Ability to work while driving (41%)
Interestingly, sustainability only ranks fourth – 31 per cent of passengers choose the train because of its lower environmental impact.
Company policies and booking method
Only six out of ten respondents claim that their employer strictly mandates train travel for shorter distances, while a third have a policy that encourages it. The majority either have no clearly defined policy or are unaware of one.
More than half of passengers buy tickets directly through railway carrier websites, while a third use corporate online booking tools. The majority use corporate cards for payment, while a third pay with personal cards and subsequently request reimbursement.
Travel experience
Trains enable productivity – 8 out of 10 passengers work during their journey, 7 out of 10 use Wi-Fi and sockets, and half use the time to relax. Reading is popular, while films and other forms of entertainment are less of a focus.
Challenges and satisfaction
Half of passengers are satisfied with the company's train travel policy, and a third report encountering no obstacles. However, challenges do exist – these include a lack of clear rules, complicated booking and payment processes.
With railway transport providers, the biggest problems are:
- Delays and strikes (50%)
- Congestion (43%)
- limited connection (33%)
- high prices (30%)
As many as 75,100 passengers experienced delays, and half also had their journeys cancelled.
Technological solutions to serve passengers
BCD Travel, through its TripSource app, offers an integrated solution for train bookings. By adding more rail carriers and expanding regionally, they aim to provide users with greater flexibility.
Yannis Karmis, Senior Vice President of Products and Solutions at BCD Travel, says:
„The train remains a preferred mode of transport for many business travellers, but challenges such as delays and poor connectivity continue to affect satisfaction. We are focused on collaborating with service providers to enhance the travel experience – from easier bookings to better information on service disruptions.“
Source: Bcdtravel.com
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