Travel managers met with rail experts at a Business Travel Lunch Forum on December 3 for an open and informal debate on how to drive modal shift from cars and planes to trains.

Sponsored by South Western Railway, the event began with networking drinks before guests enjoyed a three-course lunch while discussing the existing barriers to rail adoption and what is being done to help overcome these obstacles.

Experts from SWR, Evolvi and Rail Delivery Group listened as buyers outlined the key issues, which included fragmentation, limited access to data, inconsistent Wi-Fi, delays and cancellations, fare and ticketing complexities and a lack of interest in selling rail among TMCs.

Buyers heard about a host of initiatives in the rail sector designed to alleviate many of the problems raised, including a shake-up of fares, continued investment in onboard connectivity, more accurate and detailed sustainability data, closer collaboration with TMCs and the availability of negotiated rates and dedicated booking portals for the corporate sector.

Buyers were also urged to put pressure on their TMCs to make it easier for them to book and manage rail travel.