UK-based business travellers are expected to make more rail journeys in the next three months, despite the sector being hit by prolonged strikes over the past 18 months.

A survey of 3,600 people, commissioned by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), found that 37 per cent of rail travellers planned to take more train trips during the next three months, with only 9 per cent expecting to reduce their rail trips.

“This anticipated rise in rail journeys is particularly pronounced amongst current commuter and business customers,” said RDG, which represents the train operating companies.

“However, both current rail customers and people who choose alternative forms of transport say the long-running rail strikes will affect their travel choices over the next three months.”

RDG said that rail passenger traffic in the UK was likely to continue on its “upward curve” from the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic. But added that the study showed how long-term industrial action was “damaging” this recovery.

The survey also highlighted how rail was benefiting from being seen as a more sustainable form of travel, with 82 per cent of respondents saying that using an environmentally friendly mode of transport was either “very” or “fairly” important to them.

Rail Delivery Group’s CEO Jacqueline Starr added: “People clearly recognise that rail is the green transport choice for the future. The industry is innovating and working with our partners to make it the obvious travel option in a society transformed by Covid.

“We can see that despite the challenges the industry is facing, there is potential for growth, but only if we can bring forward long overdue changes to ways of working that allow us to respond to the needs of our customers.”

The study also showed how more innovation around ticketing could increase demand for rail travel, with two-thirds of respondents saying that special offers and more flexible tickets would encourage them to travel by train more frequently.

The rail industry is looking to introduce more pay-as-you-go arrangements, which have long been used by Transport for London and in other UK cities, as well as offering more discounts and loyalty schemes.