Member Article

Average Ticket Values Fall Again for Evolvi Users…Despite Rail Fares Increases

Corporate travellers using Evolvi Rail Systems’ rail booking channels saw the average price of a ticket fall again last year - despite a 3.3% headline increase in fares in January 2018.

Analysis of the 9.4m transactions undertaken through Evolvi in 2018 (up from 8.6m in 2017), confirms an average ticket value (ATV) of £56.32 last year compared to £56.83 in 2017, demonstrating the ability of Evolvi’s smart booking channels, including its API, to optimise value for TMCs, their clients, content aggregators and other online booking tools.

“When you consider that the ATV in 2012 stood at £61.81, the growing adoption of Evolvi’s smart fares search functionality and comprehensive policy options has consistently enabled rail users to ‘beat’ the effect of annual fares increases,” says Andrew Cantrell, IT Director at Evolvi Rail Systems. “It’s a great example of technology optimising budgets by setting controls, adding value through analytics and simplifying navigation through what is the most complex fares structure in the world.”

Evolvi is also seeing growing enthusiasm for mobile ticketing in the corporate sector, particularly with increasing availability of eTickets that go straight into travel wallets and do not require activation prior to travel (unlike mTickets).

“The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) is overseeing the rapid roll-out of barcoded tickets across all operators and all routes. This is something that will enhance the experience of increasingly tech-savvy business travellers and we very much hope that progress will now be made on the interoperability that will unlock the government’s vision for network-wide paperless travel,” says Andrew Cantrell.

“We also welcome the proposal submitted to the Williams Review by RDG and Transport Focus for a more transparent, modern system of ticketing and fares, based on the principles of simplicity and value for money. A system that better reflects the digital economy, which uses mobile technology to create value for passengers, and which opens up opportunities to bear down on travel costs for corporate users.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Colin Bridgman .