CTM enhances Lightning with new seat maps and smarter rail reservations

Corporate Travel Management (CTM) today announced a major upgrade to its Lightning online booking tool, introducing seat maps and advanced reservation features for UK rail. This development marks a significant step forward in modernising the corporate travel booking experience for business travellers.

Through its partnership with Evolvi, CTM has completed migration to the Rail Delivery Group’s new Rail Availability and Reservation Service (RARS), unlocking new functionality that makes rail travel easier to plan, book and manage.

With the launch of seat maps, Lightning users will now be able to view and select their preferred seats directly at the time of booking, helping travellers make more informed choices and enjoy a more personalised journey. The upgrade also introduces the ability to reserve seats “close to” colleagues when travelling together, further enhancing collaboration and productivity for teams on the move.

CTM customers already use Lightning to book thousands of train tickets every day, and this enhancement ensures an even more streamlined experience for travellers and travel managers alike. Importantly, CTM is among the first UK travel management companies to adopt this new RARS-powered functionality, reinforcing its position as a leader in modernising corporate rail.

“Rail travel is a critical part of the corporate travel mix, and business travellers rightly expect the same level of choice and transparency as they do when booking flights or hotels,” said Michael Healy, CEO, EMEA at CTM. “By integrating seat maps and smarter reservation tools into Lightning, we’re making the booking process more intuitive, efficient and traveller-friendly, while ensuring organisations maintain visibility and control over their travel spend.”

This investment reflects CTM’s commitment to innovation in rail content and distribution, ensuring its customers benefit from the most modern, flexible and cost-efficient booking experience available in the market.