Amex GBT Survey: Productivity Tops Sustainability as Rail Lure

While sustainability has been the key emphasis for companies that shift travelers to rail travel when reasonable, travelers are more drawn to rail by the productivity it brings them, according to an American Express Global Business Travel survey of 3,000 business travelers.

The survey—conducted among business travelers in the U.K., France and Germany from June 5 through June 10—showed 47 percent of travelers said enhanced work efficiency was a primary advantage of rail travel over other transportation modes. More than 90 percent of respondents said they use their time on a train to get work done, and 41 percent said they work during more than half of their total journey.

Comfort was the second most popular advantage for rail travel in the survey, cited by 43 percent of respondents, with sustainability ranking third at 39 percent, according to the survey.

"It's things like a traveler's ability to work whilst on board or, conversely, the opportunity to relax or recharge," Jason Geall, Amex GBT EVP of global SME, said. "Many find that rail travel is at times less stressful and [more] relaxing with the ability to look out the window."

Wi-Fi connectivity is the biggest area rail providers have for improvement, according to the survey, with 34 percent listing it as one of the amenities they would like to see improve the most. Geall said Wi-Fi on trains has been a challenge but is improving, while further improvement will require more investment from rail providers.

Other aspects of train travel that business travelers would like to see improved is mobile connectivity, providing quiet spaces and bathroom facilities, according to the survey. Surveyed business travelers also cited challenges in making cross-border and international rail bookings, and only 5 percent of respondents said they always have timely access to trip information such as platform numbers or delays.

Travelers showed satisfaction with other amenities, including 68 percent who said their rail providers' charging point availability was good and 64 percent who said they were satisfied with their working space aboard trains.