Land travel’s growing role in smarter business travel decisions

Last Updated on: July 28, 2025 at 12:32 am

When we talk about business travel, airfares and hotel rates often steal the spotlight. But there’s another piece of the puzzle that’s just as critical: ground transport.

Whether it’s trains, taxis, or ride-hailing apps, these modes of land travel carry significant weight when it comes to cost control, traveller productivity, safety, and sustainability. Yet, they’re often overlooked in policy conversations and travel programme design.

Recent data tells a more nuanced story: trains are becoming mobile offices, while unmanaged taxi use exposes companies to risk. This article explores the untapped potential and hidden pitfalls of ground transport in corporate travel.

1. The productivity case for rail

An Amex GBT survey of 3,000 travellers in the UK, France, and Germany found that a staggering 92% use train journeys to work on board. The main motivator? Productivity, not sustainability, rail is viewed as a mobile office offering space, Wi‑Fi, and convenience, Travel and Tour World.

However, infrastructure still lags. Around 34% report Wi‑Fi issues, while 25% cite poor mobile signals, and many yearn for quiet zones or business-class carriages, according to The Wall Street Journal. While operators are improving, like Amex GBT integrating real-time alerts and seat maps, connectivity and comfort remain hurdles to full productivity.

Rail isn’t just greener, it’s increasingly strategic for business travellers, especially when tech and cabin environments support focus.

2. The hidden risk of unmanaged taxi travel

A CMAC Group report highlights a major compliance blind spot: approximately 50% of business travellers book taxis outside approved systems, and 63% of companies lack managed taxi programmes.

This issue isn’t just financial:

• Duty-of-care gaps: Without central booking, companies can’t track where employees are, heightening safety risks 
• Compliance failures: Independent bookings often bypass negotiated rates and policies, resulting in uncontrolled spend and data loss, as shown in Business Travel Show Europe 2025.

Unmanaged taxis threaten traveller safety and policy effectiveness, making better ground transport governance a priority.

3. Cost + productivity + sustainability: The true ROI formula

Ground transport choices: trains, flights, or taxis, shouldn’t be judged by price alone. Instead, consider the full return on investment:

• Productivity: Rail enables working time; flights involve downtime and airport hassle.
• Safety & oversight: Managed rail bookings offer visibility; unmanaged taxis don’t.
• Carbon: Rail is more sustainable than both flights and cars, aligning with ESG commitments.

For example, short-haul flights may cost less upfront, but travel time and lack of workspace often reduce their efficiency. Rail often delivers better ROI when travellers can work comfortably and policies support trackable bookings.

4. Action plan for travel managers on land travel

To capture ground travel’s full potential, companies can:

• Encourage rail travel, especially on short-hauls, by highlighting productivity gains.
• Upgrade rail experience: insist on reliable Wi‑Fi, mobile reception, and quiet zones, or work with providers who do.
• Close the taxi gap: enforce managed ground transport platforms, integrate ride-hailing into travel tools, and mandate usage policies.
• Shift metrics: report on productivity (e.g. hours worked en route), emissions savings, and safety, not just cost per trip.
  

Elevate the ground game

Ground transport isn’t just a minor line item; it’s a strategic workplace environment, risk management lever, and policy challenge. Rail travel offers a powerful productivity and sustainability boost if backed by infrastructure. Conversely, unmanaged taxis represent a critical compliance weak point.

By rethinking policy, tech, and traveller behaviour, companies can turn ground travel from a logistical afterthought into a core competitive advantage. Want to get more value out of your travel programme? Start by rethinking what happens between takeoff and check-in. Book a demo or sign up for a free trial to test TruTrip’s benefits yourself.