UK businesses gearing up their rail use in projected bumper year for business travel

• 9 out of 10 business travel decision makers for UK SMBs expect their employees will travel more for business (92%) and expect increased spending on corporate travel budgets (90%) in 2024.
• Over 4 in 5 (83%) said their organisations intend to bolster support for employees to choose lower carbon business travel options in 2024, with 48% expecting to increase the use of rail travel.
• Over half of businesses (52%) surveyed have already set targets for reducing their emissions from business travel, while two-thirds of the remainder (66%) think it’s likely a target will be set in 2024. 

UK SMBs are increasing their support for lower carbon business travel through corporate travel policies and budgets for 2024, according to new research from Trainline Partner Solutions, the B2B arm of Trainline.

The survey of business travel decision-makers reveals 9 in 10 UK SMBS expect to boost travel expenditure (90%) and anticipate a growth in travel for business among their employees (92%). To balance this with increasing sustainability considerations, over 4 in 5 (83%) intend to bolster their travel policy and/or financial support for employees to opt for lower carbon travel modes in 2024. To this end, almost half (48%) are planning to use rail more to help reduce their emissions from business travel.

Recent research from Trainline indicates medium sized companies represent many of the high frequency industries for business travel. Over half of businesses surveyed (52%) have already set targets for reducing their emissions from business travel – of those SMBs that haven’t, two-thirds (66%) think it likely their company will set a target this year.

More SMBs surveyed are considering working with a travel management company (TMC) in 2024 to help them track and reduce their business travel emissions, with 42% already doing so and a further 39% looking to partner with a TMC this year.

Andrew Cruttenden, General Manager at Trainline Partner Solutions, said: “Businesses are telling us they expect to both travel and spend more this year as business travel continues to rebound post-Covid. We’re seeing a clear signal that sustainability considerations are a growing factor in setting travel policies and budgets, and rail is a great way to reduce the carbon emissions for travel versus flying and driving.  Carriers and travel partners must ensure they can meet this growing demand by innovating and investing in the right tech that helps make rail a simple and seamless option for business travellers.”

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The research was conducted by Censuswide, with 503 UK decision makers on business travel policy in companies with 50 -249 employees (aged 18+) between 18.12.2023 – 20.12.2023. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles.

About Trainline
Trainline Partner Solutions – Trainline’s B2B arm – provides innovative rail technology solutions to travel companies of all sizes and rail carriers. Through Platform One, Trainline’s technology platform, Trainline Partner Solutions enables travellers to seamlessly search, book and manage their trips.  Our goal is to simplify the complex world of business travel and train ticket sales so that more companies opt for a greener means of transport.  Trainline is a one-stop shop for train and bus travel that brings together millions of routes, fares, and travel times from 270 rail and bus carriers in 45 countries.