Bonnie Smith, GM FCM, explains companies need to have a close look at what the most cost-effective and sustainable way to travel is for their road warriors, particularly in an age where climate change is a pressing issue and businesses are being encouraged to measure and reduce their carbon emissions.

“Whether it’s better to send out your road warriors by air, rail or car will depend on the region,” says Smith “In South Africa, for example, due to safety concerns and a virtually non-existent rail network, the primary options for business travel are car rental and air travel. However, in regions with more developed infrastructure, like Europe and the United States, rail travel can be a viable and often preferred choice.”

Choosing Between Air Travel, Car Rental, and Rail Travel

Each mode of transportation comes with its unique advantages and disadvantages, according to a study conducted by FCM Consulting. For an individual traveller, rail travel is the lowest carbon emitter, followed by air travel. However, when travelling in a group, a car becomes more efficient in terms of carbon emissions. However, not all modes of transport are practical from a standpoint of time or cost.

Johannesburg – Cape Town

In South Africa, a trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town would take approximately 120 minutes by air, costing around R1 500, with carbon emissions of 90 kg CO2 emission units. However, a car rental for the same route would take significantly longer, about 1400 minutes, cost more, around R3 000, and have higher carbon emissions of 300 kg CO2e units.

From a wellness perspective, the stress and fatigue associated with long car journeys could lead to higher travel friction, which could adversely affect the trip’s overall ROI. Furthermore, considering South Africa’s high road accident rates, air travel is the safer option as well as the more eco- and budget-friendly choice.

London – Paris

When we examine a popular European route, like London to Paris, we introduce the viable option of rail travel. Air travel remains the fastest option, taking 160 minutes and costing $407, but with a considerable carbon footprint of 106 kg CO2 emission units.

Rail travel takes significantly longer, 280 minutes, and is slightly more expensive, at $435. However, it is the most environmentally friendly option, with a low carbon footprint of 4 kg CO2 emission units.

Car rental is the least efficient option, taking 720 minutes, costing $950, and producing high carbon emissions of 158 kg CO2e units.

“For business travellers arriving in Europe, rail travel offers a blend of affordability, comfort, and eco-friendliness. Additionally, it provides a low-stress travel environment conducive to productivity, with amenities like Wi-Fi and dining facilities available on many services. However, the longer travel time could be a potential downside, particularly for time-sensitive trips,” explains Smith.

Factoring in Traveller Wellness and Carbon Emissions

As businesses globally aim to be more eco-conscious and mindful of employee wellness, the consideration of carbon emissions and travel friction is increasingly important.

“Air travel, while faster and potentially less stressful, does have a higher carbon footprint per individual traveller than car travel. Rail travel, with its lower carbon emissions and potential for a more relaxed journey, especially in regions with well-developed rail networks, stands out as a balanced choice. However, the feasibility of rail travel is heavily dependent on the region,” says Smith

“The best mode of transportation for business travel is highly dependent on the specific needs of the trip and the infrastructure of the region,” concludes Smith. “Your travel management company can however help you balancing time, cost, carbon emissions, safety, and traveller wellness so you can maximise the ROI of business travel, wherever the destination may be.”

For more information about FCM Travel, or to interview FCM Travel General Manager South Africa, Bonnie Smith, call Dorine Reinstein on 083 278 8994 or email dorine@bigambitions.co.za.

KLM has regularly indicated that it is in favour of replacing short-haul flights with rail services, as long as trains fully match the speed, reliability and comfort that air travel offers passengers. The decision to reduce flight frequency from five to four flights a day on the Brussels-Schiphol route, in combination with the improved Air&Rail product aboard the Thalys, is a first step. KLM intends to gradually cut back the number of flights between Brussels and Schiphol. The Brussels-Schiphol route is used by passengers who catch connecting flights to intercontinental destinations at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.“

Intermodal transport involving trains and planes remains a complex and challenging business. Speed is key, not only in terms of the train itself, but also the transfer process at the airport. We aim to make maximum progress in both areas. Reducing our frequency from five to four flights a day is a good way of gaining more experience with Air&Rail services. -KLM President & CEO Pieter Elbers

“Fly Responsibly” and slot restrictions

This step is part of KLM’s commitment to “Fly Responsibly”, which aims to create a sustainable future for air transport, but it also reflects our commitment to the sector plan Smart and Sustainable. Next to that, KLM is faced with slot restrictions at Schiphol. By replacing short-haul flights with rail services, scarce slots can be used for services to long-haul destinations. Rail services will maintain feeder traffic to Schiphol, while network quality improves thanks to the more varied range of available destinations.

Improvement of the Air&Rail product

Air&Rail is easy to book via KLM.com and travel agents. To ensure smoother connections with KLM flights, Thalys, NS, KLM and Schiphol are seeking to improve baggage handling and other services, and there will be a special Air&Rail check-in desk at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

About “Fly Responsibly”

“Fly Responsibly” embodies KLM’s commitment to creating a sustainable future for air transport. It incorporates all of KLM’s current and future efforts to improve the sustainability of its activities. But true progress can only be achieved if the entire sector cooperates. With “Fly Responsibly”, KLM invites consumers to opt for CO2 compensation services, while companies are invited to compensate for business travel via the KLM Corporate BioFuel Programme.

Speaking at the launch, Transnet’s acting group chief executive, Tau Morwe said that The Blue Train “occupies a very special place in the hearts and minds of many in our country and around the world. Through the years, countless tourists to our beautiful country – from movie stars to presidents and prime ministers – and of course, our beloved Madiba – have all sung praises of this singular asset to our tourism industry. It is vitally important, therefore, that we enhance The Blue Train’s iconic appeal to extend its market to further reaches – and target new markets in doing so.”

The repositioning, which provides a new perspective to all marketing and sales interventions introduces this national treasure as a venue option for business use and reimagines its offering to both new and returning leisure travellers. Businesses can hire the train for private charters around Pretoria on ‘A Trip to Nowhere,’ on the Pretoria to Sun City route, on the Pretoria to Durban route, the main route which is Pretoria to Cape Town, and other destinations within South Africa’s rail network.

Vincent Monyake, The Blue Train’s executive manager in his welcome note at the launch said: “In the business of luxury, we build on heritage and legacy. The Blue Train has been a part of the South African experience for 72 years; and so, this repositioning, the first in over 20 years, is an audacious task that builds on the legacy of a national treasure, whose opulence and elegance continues to not only stand the test of time, but also challenge and push the category of luxury worldwide.”

“The repositioning was a confluence of many things: appreciating the zeitgeist of our time as captured in the experience economy, listening to our guests’ and clients’ feedback after boarding The Blue Train, and aligning internally with our operations.

“The experience economy speaks to the value intangible life experiences and people’s sense of urgency with experiencing life, and our guests have echoed that time and again, wanting the trips to take longer. Operationally, more time allows us to finesse our offering even more. So, this reimagination, ‘Surrender to the luxury of slow’ resonates with our guests and clients, and internally, gives us the opportunity to keep pushing ourselves to better our offering.”

Businesses can take advantage of the gourmet food freshly prepared onboard served in the Dining Car; the fine liquors and handmade cigars available in the Club Car; the versatile Observation Car that doubles up as a boardroom and as the dance floor for business events, and where needed, the De Luxe and Luxury Suites with all-round butler services.

Also speaking at the launch, South African Tourism’s head of global affairs, Bradley Brouwer said: “The Blue Train is an iconic expression of South African and African tourist splendour, for guests from Africa and the rest of the world, and it remains a pivotal landmark that continues to entice travellers to South Africa. Therefore, this National Treasure, along with South African Tourism and other players in tourism, carry a mandate to maintain South Africa’s prestige as a prime destination to the world, and in the process, grow our economy.”

Monyake, echoed Brouwer’s remarks on the national treasure’s place in South Africa’s tourism landscape: “As one of the flagship tourism experiences, we take this challenge to heart and we appreciate that our purpose as The Blue Train rallies in tandem with our contemporaries at SA Tourism and other national treasures that draw new audiences and compel regular travellers to return.”