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High speed rail wins out over airport expansion
Saturday, 27 Jan, 2010
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Most UK business travellers favour investment in high speed rail over expansion of airports, a new study shows.
A poll of 1,240 corporate travellers found that 70% feel a high speed rail network should be the priority for government investment over expansion of capacity at UK airports.
Sixty per cent said high speed rail when asked what infrastructure would make the biggest difference to them.
But the survey revealed that any shift from air to rail would not happen unless a high speed train system was put in place.
Sixty six per cent of business travellers indicated that they would then switch from flying if the trip was faster by rail.
More than half (56%) said they would switch if there was a direct route and 55% if rail was cheaper than the alternative.
Criticism of trains included high fares, particularly those booked closer to the day of travel.
The Guild of Travel Management Companies’ survey showed that around half of business travel is in economy class on scheduled airlines, with 20% using no frills carriers.
First and business class is only used by 16% of respondents.
Heathrow is still the airport that dominates discussion and most travellers just want it to work better and be able to get to it easier, according to the study
The majority of respondents were not happy with the airport environment as a place to do work (outside of business class lounges) and were frustrated by the time it takes to move through airports, although largely satisfied with security measures.
They want Wi Fi access to work stations and power points (also a requirement at trains and stations), appropriate levels of staff to minimise queuing and effective routing of passengers through airports.
Delays remain the biggest frustration for business travellers.
Cars remain integral to doing business in the UK, particularly for small businesses.
The main gripe for business travellers is level of road congestion (61% not satisfied on motorways and 56% not satisfied on non-motorway).
Tolled motorways were viewed favourably with 58% seeing Public Private Partnership as the preferred method of funding for this infrastructure improvement.
Unveiling the results of the guild’s first Business Travel Manifesto, GTMC chief executive Anne Godfrey said: “In 2008 the GTMC embarked on a mission to raise the profile of travel management as a profession and to communicate the insights the industry had into corporate travel to policy makers and influencers.
“During our meetings with civil servants, MPs and advisors it became apparent that there was a real hunger for information and data into various aspects of business travel, particularly what drove modal choice.
“We felt we were uniquely placed to assist with this and it led us onto the qualitative and quantitative survey underpinning today’s manifesto.
“The delivery of the GTMC Business Travel Manifesto has provided real insight and clarity on what the business traveller wants to be achieved by the future government.
“We hope our lobbying efforts in the next 18 months will make a real difference to the experience of the UK business traveller.”
by Phil Davies
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