On the right TRACK?
Corporates and TMCS are demanding a more collaborative approach from train operators. Catherine Chetwynd examines the latest progress
With trainfares something of a minefield and most train operating companies (TOC) refusing to negotiate with companies on the basis of volume discount, it was no surprise that the government launched a major review of the UK'S rail market.
The Williams Rail Review was due to report its findings in September but has predictably been delayed – the impact of Brexit on Whitehall rather than leaves on the line the most likely cause of its late arrival later this autumn.
Even the Rail Delivery Group, which represents operators, recognised the need for an overhaul. In its submission to the Review, Chief Operating Officer Jacqueline Starr explained: “Increasing use of technology and remote working over the past decade has been accompanied by more employers offering flexible working; fewer people need to be in the office five days a week or to commute at peak times. We have seen this in falling sales of season tickets but with passenger journeys still reaching record highs.
“The decades-old fares regulations have created an inflexible and confusing range of fares. Fares reform would also allow us to tackle crowding on some of Britain’s busiest commuter services by removing the cliff-edge price difference between peak and the first off-peak services.”
Full steam ahead
This, suggested Starr, could bring advantages for business, including tap-in tap-out, pay-as-you-go travel with price capping across the country, and a best-fare guarantee. Other bonuses could be increased competition on long-distance routes, creating a demand-led market and quicker journeys, more space per seat, faster wifi, and better service on board; at last the customer would feature large.
But that is all for the future. What about the picture today?
Virgin Trains has corporate fares which are available on key business routes on the west coast. These are for sale via TMCS only. “A travel manager’s objective is generally to bring down the cost of travel as much as they can and, conversely, ours is to maintain yield, so we aimed to meet them in the middle,” says Head of Corporate Sales, Claire Walton.
“Business customers can fix their outbound journey but they get more value out of the flexible return. If somebody misses a train, it is expensive to buy a single fare home, or if a meeting finishes early and people arrive at the station hours before their booked departure that is a complete waste of time. Some of our Business Corporate Fares also come with a free first class upgrade,” she says.