Trainline Partner Solutions reveals UK businesses gearing up rail use in 2024

83% said their organisations intend to improve employee support to choose lower carbon business travel options

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. 

B2B arm of Trainline, Trainline Partner Solutions, has revealed new research which shows UK small-and-medium sized businesses are increasing support for lower carbon business travel through corporate travel policies and budgets for 2024.

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 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 of 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." 

He said: "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.”