East Coast Rail Deal Cuts Cost of Business Travel for Scottish Firms

Train operator East Coast today  launches a new business ticket offer in a bid to attract more corporate travellers onto rail between Scotland and London – by offering flexible First Class travel for less than the usual price of a Standard Class open ticket.

Competitively priced at £199, the new Scottish Executive Package is 27 per cent cheaper than a Standard Class Anytime return rail fare and 47 per cent less than a First Class Anytime return fare between Edinburgh and London.

On the Glasgow Central to London route, passengers can benefit from savings of 47 per cent and 31 per cent on First Class Anytime and Standard Class Anytime return rail fares respectively.

Air passengers currently paying an average of £253 for flights between Edinburgh and London will also save with the new business travel package.

The new ticket deal aims to further boost East Coast’s Anglo-Scottish market share by stimulating extra corporate demand for rail travel on the important Edinburgh and Glasgow to London routes.

Latest figures show that East Coast has almost doubled its share of the rail and air travel market between Edinburgh and London in the last five years, from 12 per cent in 2005 to 23 per cent in January 2010.

In addition to a free upgrade to First Class in both directions, the all-inclusive package offers business travellers a three course meal voucher, use of East Coast’s First Class Lounges at Edinburgh and London Kings Cross stations and onward travel within London Underground zones 1 and 2.

Martin Turner, East Coast Head of Sales, said: “The new Scottish Executive Package will particularly appeal to corporate travellers who need to comply with ‘economy class only’ company travel policies by offering a product at a Standard Class price, but which includes all the perks of First Class travel at no additional cost.

“In addition to city-centre to city-centre journeys, business travellers can take advantage of the mobile office environment with space to work, complimentary wireless internet and a great choice of on-board dining options whilst travelling by train.

“Rail offers a truly competitive, cost effective, comfortable and greener alternative to travelling by air or car. We hope the unbeatable price of the new Scottish Executive Package will encourage more corporate travellers to give rail a try.”

The new ticket package has also been welcomed by Ron Hewitt, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce who said: “This is a terrific offer for business travellers.  Edinburgh as the second wealthiest city in the UK needs the best connectivity it can get with London.  The East Coast Main Line is one of the UK’s most important rail arteries and deserves the most complete patronage it can get from the business community.  Businesses in turn need to be attracted, and this ticket offer has it all – First Class comfort on board, meals at-seat, use of First Class lounges, free wireless internet so travel time is productive and all at a competitive price.  It’s a winner!”

Travelling by train between Edinburgh and London is the least environmentally damaging mode of transport, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, compared to air or road travel.

Research shows that a single rail journey between Edinburgh and London generates an average 27kg of greenhouse gas emissions (kgCO₂e) per passenger, compared with a staggering 84kg per passenger by air and 76kg by car.

Rail is the ideal mode of transport for businesses that plan to introduce greener travel policies in order to reduce their carbon footprint.

Only available to passengers travelling between Edinburgh or Glasgow Central and London (and vice versa), the Scottish Executive Package can be booked until 18.00 the day before travel with the added flexibility of an open return journey.

Scottish Executive Package tickets are also fully refundable, minus a small cancellation fee, if completely unused and returned. A partial refund is also available when only the return journey was not made.

The ticket can be booked by visiting www.eastcoast.co.uk, over the phone with East Coast’s telesales team on 08457 225 225, at any National Rail station booking office or via a UK rail appointed travel agent.  Corporate travellers can also contact East Coast’s dedicated business travel team on 08457 225 125 for expert advice on the best value options.  Passengers travelling from London should book the package via a UK rail appointed travel agent.

Full details of the Scottish Executive Package can be found at www.eastcoast.co.uk/scottishexecutive.

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