What role do trains play in business travel, and what role do business travellers play on trains? This is how the study published at the end of April by BCD Travel. TMC surveyed no fewer than 681 business travellers, both in Europe (60%) and Asia-Pacific (40%). All of them have taken the train at least once in the last twelve months for a business trip. Most of them (56%) only made one rail journey in the year. The scope of the study therefore has the advantage of compiling large-scale data. However, the lack of granularity by market may prove problematic, given the extent to which the realities differ from one country to another in terms of rail infrastructure and therefore the relationship with the train.
The study published by BCD Travel nevertheless points to a number of interesting trends. Starting with the expected change in the relationship with the train this year. Or rather its stagnation: the majority of respondents (60%) expect to maintain their volume of rail journeys in 2025. Travel management is only partly responsible for the low priority given to rail travel. Barely a third of companies encourage this type of travel. 6% go further and impose it where possible.
This is the big question that has been agitating the business travel industry for several years now, at least in Europe where the battle between air and rail is the most balanced. To what extent can the train replace the plane without encroaching on the air travel market? well-being of travellers? Unsurprisingly, the maximum train journey time accepted by business travellers is 5 hours. Knowing that the average train journey is between 1h and 3h in 47% of cases. This is logical, given that the majority of train journeys (60%) are limited to the domestic network. Result: on routes where train and plane are two viable options, two thirds of travellers would choose the train if the cost and journey time were similar. However, 40% of those surveyed said that they never or rarely take environmental issues into account when planning their trip... The relationship between business travel and the environment is decidedly ambivalent...
So what do business travellers think of the train? Only 16% of travellers say they are disappointed or very disappointed by this means of transport. The main advantages for business travellers are the accessibility of stations, the practicality of rail travel and the possibility of working on board. 31% of those surveyed also emphasised its eco-responsibility. Studious passengers (82%) overwhelmingly cite work as the main activity during the journey. As for the train's weak points, the lack of reliability due to delays and strikes was singled out (50%), as were overcrowded trains (43%) and limited connectivity (33%). Finally, it should be noted that internal meetings (50%) are the main reason for taking the train for those surveyed, ahead of customer meetings (31%) and conferences and other conventions (25%).
