Travel buyers met with experts from South Western Rail to discuss how train travel can be a key part of their sustainability travel programmes at a Business Travel Lunch Forum on July 18.

The event, which took place at the Caledonian Club in London’s Belgravia, focussed on domestic UK rail and how to get travellers off the road and on to trains, but also looked at modal shift from air to rail on European routes and beyond.

The travel buyers had a range of different approaches, ranging from mandating rail travel for trips that can be done in a certain number of hours to taking a more gentle approach of educating and encouraging their travellers to consider rail options.

Many were surprised to learn that the carbon footprint of taking the train is up to three times less than driving in an electric vehicle.

Buyers said seeing rail options – and the carbon emissions – listed alongside air travel would help to encourage more travellers on to trains.

The event was sponsored by South Western Rail, which has the highest percentage of electric trains in its fleet among UK rail operators.