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Related Expertise: Industrial Goods , Rail Industry , Transportation and Logistics

Riding the Rails to Sustainability

February 28, 2022  By  Annika Zawadzki ,  Felix Reszewski ,  Mirko Pahl ,  Henning Schierholz ,  Dustin Burke ,  Bruno Vasconcellos , and  Maeyce Toppan

  • Rail companies can pull several levers to reduce emissions, including increasing electrification and the use of alternative drives, improving efficiency, and promoting sustainability across the value chain.
  • Operators, policymakers, suppliers, infrastructure owners, and investors must work together to lower rail’s carbon footprint and boost its market share.

Rail is the most sustainable mode of transport. Increasing its share of passengers and freight is critical to achieving net-zero goals.

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No form of mass transport has more potential to aid in the fight against global warming than rail. It is one of the most energy-efficient transport modes, responsible for 9% of global motorized passenger movement and 7% of freight shipping—but only 3% of transport energy use, according to the International Energy Agency. It uses 80% less energy than trucks per ton of freight carried and holds a four-to-one advantage over cars in terms of its emissions intensity. As a result, rail accounted for just 4% of the transport industry’s global emissions in 2019.

Unfortunately, despite its major role in helping the world reach the Paris Agreement’s emissions reduction goals, rail has been losing share to higher-polluting transport modes in most major markets across the globe. Indeed, the ongoing shift in freight transport from bulk shipping to container-based intermodal transport, particularly for consumer goods, may continue to favor trucks over rail. And surveys indicate that people who have sought the protection of their cars during the COVID-19 pandemic may be reluctant to return to public transport, even as the threat passes.

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There is an essential environmental case for reversing rail’s loss of market share—and a strong business case as well. As sustainable as rail transport is now, there is still considerable room for improvement through the development of alternative drives, greater operational efficiency, increased dependence on renewable energy, and more. Governments around the world are already making plans to increase rail’s sustainability. For them, greater sustainability means not just a smaller carbon footprint but also lower costs throughout their operations and supply chains. As a result, passenger and freight customers looking to reduce their own carbon footprints and costs will likely find rail increasingly attractive.

In short, greater sustainability is key to rail’s future growth. But that growth will require new technologies and further support from all stakeholders, including policymakers, investors, suppliers, and rail service providers themselves. Here’s how to get on board.

OFF THE RAILS

Recent data on the state of the global rail industry is not encouraging. In most countries, rail is underrepresented in terms of freight carried (measured in metric-ton-kilometers) and passenger-kilometers traveled (see Exhibit 1). And while there are exceptions, it has shown little signs of growth in recent years.

green rail travel

Between 2000 and 2018, passenger and freight rail in Europe have been essentially stagnant, falling by 1 and 3 percentage points, respectively. In India, freight and passenger share decreased by 10 percentage points, despite the country’s efforts to increase investments in rail. And while freight in the US managed to increase its share by 4 percentage points, passenger transport remains insignificant.

The most notable exceptions are China and Australia. Transport gained 23 percentage points during the near-two-decade period in China, although freight lost 11 percentage points. The reverse is true in Australia: freight gained 17 percentage points while the share of passengers traveling by rail remains small.

To make matters worse, several trends are hindering future growth. Passenger rail travel has fallen considerably around the world since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although rail travel has returned to normal in China, it has yet to fully recover in either the US or Europe, where it is still down to 78% and 87% of prepandemic levels, respectively. And a recent BCG survey on urban mobility ranked physical distancing and cleanliness far above sustainability among respondents’ urban mobility priorities—and rail the riskiest among urban transport choices.

Freight, too, is suffering. For example, e-commerce in the US, which heavily relies on shipments by truck, has grown 18% annually since 2000—and it has exploded during the pandemic. This growth rate is far faster than that of industries such as agriculture, mining, and automotive, which typically ship goods via rail. In Europe, freight shipments by rail have been adversely affected by the structural challenges facing the steel, energy, paper, and automotive industries, among others. As a result, the volume and mixture of goods transported by train are changing.

Meanwhile, transportation providers are working hard to become more sustainable. Electric vehicles—both cars and trucks—are gaining market share; maritime companies are experimenting with alternative power sources, such as battery-electric and hydrogen drives; and even airlines are committing to sustainable fuel sources with the hope of becoming carbon neutral in coming decades. Such efforts have the potential to win over even more customers—passengers and shippers alike—as they grow increasingly concerned about their environmental impact.

SCOPING THE CHALLENGE

If rail is to expand and grow, it must continue to attract passengers and freight customers looking to reduce their own carbon footprints. The effort will require making progress across all three types of emissions for which rail operators are directly or indirectly responsible (see Exhibit 2):

  • Scope 1 emissions encompass rail companies’ direct emissions from their trains, on-site machinery, and buildings. They are generated primarily through fossil fuels that power locomotives and company cars and trucks.
  • Scope 2 emissions are created indirectly through the purchase of nonrenewable electricity that is used not just to power locomotives but also to sustain administrative operations, the operation of train stations, maintenance, and other activities.
  • Scope 3 emissions include other indirect GHG emissions from rail companies’ value chains, such as the upstream emissions generated in the production of locomotives and rolling stock and the construction of rail infrastructure.

green rail travel

Rail companies can pull several levers to reduce their GHG emissions across the value chain. They can reduce their Scope 1 emissions in three ways: deploying cleaner alternative-drive technologies for locomotives, improving energy efficiency in operations, and maximizing the utilization of current assets. They can reduce their Scope 2 emissions by increasing the share of renewable energy purchased for their rail networks, buildings, and other activities and through cleaner locomotive drives, improvements in efficiency, and asset utilization. Companies can help lower both upstream and downstream Scope 3 emissions by actively promoting sustainability across the value chain—engaging with suppliers on decarbonization levers and setting green procurement criteria, for example (see Exhibit 3).

green rail travel

LEVER ONE: ELECTRIFICATION AND ALTERNATIVE DRIVES

According to the International Energy Agency, 55% of the energy consumed by the global rail industry in 2020 was generated by diesel (85% of it used to power trains), 44% by electricity, and 1% by biofuels. Reducing the Scope 1 emissions resulting from the burning of diesel—around 300 million tons of GHG emissions annually—will therefore be critical to the industry’s sustainability efforts. If global rail is to reach net zero by 2050, it must reduce its use of diesel to just 4% of the total amount of energy used, substituting either renewable electricity or some other form of propulsion.

Already, operators are making the transition to electrification. As of 2016, electric locomotives were responsible for 70% of the passenger-kilometers traveled and 48% of freight-kilometers shipped (see Exhibit 4). But the share of diesel locomotives around the world remains high. About 50% of all trains in Western Europe and Asia are diesel powered, 75% in the Middle East and Africa, and a daunting 99% in the Americas.

green rail travel

So, the first lever in cutting the industry’s Scope 1 emissions involves either continuing to increase the use of electric locomotives—which must be powered by renewable energy so as not to increase Scope 2 emissions (see below)—or developing new drive options.

Expanding Network Electrification. While many rail operators have been moving toward electrification, the pace varies considerably by country (see Exhibit 5). Countries in Asia and Europe have significantly increased their share of electrified passenger and freight kilometers, and several are making electrification central to their net-zero transport plans. In China, for example, the share of electrified tracks jumped from approximately 20% in 2000 to around 70% in 2019. And Germany’s Electrification Plus program, launched in 2021, seeks to ensure that 100% of the country’s rail network will be traveled electrically or climate neutrally.

green rail travel

Elsewhere, however, efforts to electrify rail networks continue to lag. This is especially true in regions where distances are long, the infrastructure needed for electrification is very sparsely scattered, and electrification can be prohibitively expensive. The Association of American Railroads, for example, estimates that electrifying the US’s 140,000 miles of freight lines would cost millions of dollars per track-mile. And replacing even half of the nation’s 24,000 diesel locomotives would cost close to $100 billion.

Indeed, as of 2019, diesel locomotives made up 68% of the global installed base of 170,000 locomotives. Replacing them all would be too costly, given that electric locomotives cost far more than diesel and can’t be used in many regions. In short, while further network electrification is likely in regions where electrification has already taken hold, perhaps through a combination of public and private investments, it is simply not viable elsewhere.

Developing New Power Technologies. Full electrification isn’t the only solution to the problem of diesel emissions. Diesel-electric locomotives, for instance, can run either on their own diesel power or on electrified track, where available. Hybrid locomotives depend on smaller diesel engines as well as rechargeable storage systems fueled with surplus energy or energy from regenerative braking. But neither type offers the zero emissions of electric locomotives.

Another promising, but still very immature, option is the use of hydrogen gas (H 2 ) as a power source. Its success in lowering the industry’s carbon emissions, however, will depend on several factors. The first is developing the technology and infrastructure needed to produce, distribute, and store hydrogen safely and at reasonable cost; the second is developing practical, economically viable ways of powering locomotives with hydrogen.

H 2 is currently produced in numerous ways. “Gray hydrogen” is produced using natural gas as a feedstock, a process that emits CO 2 into the atmosphere. “Blue hydrogen” is produced using the same process, but the resulting carbon dioxide is sequestered through carbon capture. “Green hydrogen,” the cleanest, is produced through the electrolysis of water using renewably generated electricity. Judging from the number of projects announced through the end of 2019, an estimated 4 million tons of blue and green hydrogen will be produced globally by 2028.

That still won’t be nearly enough to supply the world’s needs. Prices are expected to remain high—green hydrogen isn’t expected to become economically viable until 2030—and other industries, such as steelmaking, will be competing for the H 2 available.

Additional barriers remain. Practical propulsion technologies are still under development, as is the infrastructure needed to distribute and store the hydrogen and supply railways at scale. In short, considerable capex investments will be required to make H 2 a reality for the industry.

Despite the challenges, several hydrogen-powered rail projects are currently in the works. For example, a hydrogen locomotive is already in operation in Germany. A joint effort by Alstom and industrial gases company Linde, the Coradia iLint is the first train of its kind in regular passenger operation, with planned expansion to the Netherlands and elsewhere in the EU.

Alternative drive technologies will be critical to the industry’s effort to reduce its carbon emissions. The shift will take time, however, and operators must consider carefully how best to manage the transition.

LEVER TWO: INCREASING ENERGY EFFICIENCY

In addition to implementing further electrification and innovative new drives, the rail industry can reduce its Scope 1 emissions through more efficient energy use. Rail operators should consider taking advantage of six ways to increase efficiency:

  • Driver Behavior. Trains run by different drivers consume very different amounts of energy, depending on how each driver uses the throttle and brake and manages speed. By training drivers on best practices, incentivizing better driving, and providing driving tips for particular routes, operators can reduce energy costs by up to 10%.
  • Operational Software. A number of digital tools have recently been implemented to optimize operations for diesel and electric trains. Wabtec’s Trip Optimizer, for example, is a smart system that minimizes fuel consumption by calculating best speed, throttle, and braking for each trip. It can reduce a diesel locomotive’s annual fuel consumption by 32,000 gallons, CO 2 emissions by more than 365 tons, and nitrogen emissions by 3.7 tons.
  • Aerodynamics. Improved design of locomotives and rolling stock can significantly reduce drag and lower energy consumption. New designs by Alstom, Bombardier, and Siemens offer as much as 30% reduced energy consumption.
  • New Materials. The combination of new composite materials and modular design has the potential to reduce energy consumption even further. Under the EU’s Shift2Rail project, a consortium of researchers, engineering firms, and suppliers are working to develop the next generation of trains, built to reduce weight while adding room for more passengers.
  • Train Mechatronics. New systems are being designed that combine mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering to significantly boost energy efficiency. Produced by ABB, Siemens, and others, these systems are made cleaner thanks to regenerative braking and new propulsion mechanisms.
  • Ancillary Systems. A range of options are becoming available for reducing energy consumption in noncore activities, including the use of LEDs in safety lighting and natural refrigerants in air conditioning.

LEVER THREE: MAXIMIZING ASSET UTILIZATION

Rail operator and infrastructure providers can obtain additional energy savings and achieve Scope 1 emissions reductions through more efficient asset utilization and improved construction management and maintenance activities. Options include:

  • Intelligent Infrastructure. This includes a range of digital systems that use networking technology to automate signaling and switching, thus reducing delays and disruptions (caused by obstacles on the tracks, for example). Thanks to government funding, these “digital interlocking” systems are already a reality on certain lines in Germany and Switzerland.
  • Smart Construction Planning. Technologies such as “digital twins” and data-driven project management software can be employed to model and manage major construction projects and ensure on-time, on-budget completion.
  • Digital Infrastructure Maintenance. Condition-based and predictive maintenance software—combined with the Internet of Things, 5G data transmission, artificial intelligence , drones, and other similar tools—can significantly reduce asset downtime and maximize infrastructure utilization.
  • Digital Train Operations. A range of data-driven digital systems can automate several aspects of train operations, including fleet management, timetabling, shunting and coupling, and driver assistance.
  • Digital Complementary Services. Software providers now offer a number of demand-forecasting and crew-management systems intended to provide end-to-end digitization and automation of the personnel-planning process. These tools can help optimize activities such as repair, construction, and crew scheduling and dispatching. Armed with the latest software, rail providers can avoid deadheads, lengthy dwell times, and other delays.
  • Digital Rolling Stock Maintenance. Data-based systems can optimize upkeep of rolling stock with predictive and condition-based maintenance technology and by automatically replenishing spare parts.
  • Longer Trains. Rail providers are increasingly looking to use longer trains, especially among North America’s major freight providers. Europe, too, would benefit from longer trains. Indeed, deploying trains of up to 1,500 meters would significantly improve rail’s competitive position compared with trucks, even if restricted initially to the continent’s main corridors. Adding train cars can enhance productivity and efficiency, make better use of resources, and generate fuel savings. However, the strategy would likely require major investments in infrastructure upgrades and increase maintenance costs.

LEVER FOUR: SHIFTING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY

As noted, if the global rail industry is to reach its net-zero emissions goals, it must achieve far greater electrification of its locomotives. But even the best efforts to maintain and increase electrification will not significantly increase rail’s sustainability if the electricity the industry uses continues to be generated by fossil fuels. Running a locomotive on coal-generated electricity produces just as many GHG emissions as a diesel locomotive, though only half as much as natural gas. And even the most electrified rail networks still primarily depend on fossil fuels—80% in both Japan and India, for example.

For rail operators to reduce their Scope 2 emissions, they must significantly increase the proportion of electricity that comes from renewable sources, primarily hydroelectric, solar, and wind. And there are only two ways for rail operators to do that: purchase more renewable energy or generate their own.

Several operators are already committing to purchase more renewable electricity. In Germany, for example, Deutsche Bahn plans to buy an annual 190 gigawatts of electricity from the Amrumbank-West offshore wind farm over the next 15 years. And France’s SNCF Energy has signed a 20-year contract with EDF Renewables to buy 25 gigawatts of renewable energy generated by a 20-megawatt solar farm, opening in 2023.

In the UK, Network Rail, the primary owner of the country’s rail infrastructure, hopes to become 100% renewable by 2030. To that end, the company is working to connect solar and wind generators directly to its buildings and infrastructure, while also purchasing energy directly from third-party solar and wind farms. So far, all the electricity the company uses to power operations (excluding locomotives) comes from renewable sources.

Similarly, JR East, Japan’s largest rail operator, aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2051—not just by purchasing renewable electricity but also by working with a subsidiary to develop its own sources of renewable energy. Already, a quarter of the electricity it uses is generated renewably.

Other operators are taking matters into their own hands. The Canadian Pacific Railway built a solar energy farm installation to supply electricity for its Calgary headquarters, and Indian Railways began operating the first fully solar powered rail section in 2019.

LEVER FIVE: DECARBONIZING THE VALUE CHAIN

The rail industry’s indirect Scope 3 emissions, primarily those produced by upstream suppliers but also by downstream activities, make up a significant portion of its overall carbon footprint. Reducing these emissions will require a combined effort by all players in the global rail ecosystem. Several operators are already taking the steps needed to measure and reduce emissions across the industry’s value chain, including:

  • Creating Transparency. Operators that build a baseline of GHG emissions across the value chain are able to set reduction targets for all three emission scopes and publicly report progress. By sharing this data, operators can encourage shippers and suppliers to reduce their own emissions. For example, Brazil’s MRS, a freight operator, has developed a calculator it uses as a commercial tool to attract clients by showing the emissions-reducing potential of shifting from trucks to rail. Aside from its business benefits, the calculator also stimulates the discussion regarding emissions among clients and suppliers.
  • Optimizing for CO 2 Reductions. Rail and infrastructure operators can work to reduce the carbon footprints of their own products and those of their suppliers. Focusing on sustainable sourcing strategies can extend these efforts throughout the supply chain. Infrabel, Belgium Rail’s infrastructure manager, recently laid sleepers made from sulfur concrete, which cost no more than traditional sleepers and release considerably fewer emissions in the production process. SBB, Switzerland’s national rail company, has been using a mixture of recycled asphalt in the construction of platforms. Using this mix instead of asphalt allows SBB to avoid 25% of the GHGs emitted in the production of new asphalt.
  • Engaging Suppliers. By integrating emissions data with data from suppliers, operators can define clear emissions-based procurement standards and track suppliers’ performance, encouraging them to address their own emissions. The UK’s Network Rail, for example, determined that two-thirds of its Scope 3 emissions came from purchased goods and services in addition to capital goods. It “expects that the suppliers responsible for three-quarters of the operator’s Scope 3 emissions will have set their own science-based targets by 2025.”
  • Working Within the Ecosystem. Reducing Scope 3 emissions is the responsibility of the entire rail ecosystem—operators, infrastructure provides, and suppliers alike. The entire sector must work together to set standards and commit to sustainable procurement practices , and thus create demand-side pressure to improve sustainability throughout the ecosystem. In 2015, six major rail players cofounded Railsponsible to promote sustainability across the supply chain. Membership in the consortium has grown to 15 operators and suppliers, representing more than 50 billion euros in procurement spending, 44% of which falls under Railsponsible’s sustainable procurement agreements.  
  • Enabling the Organization. Implementing sustainability at the operational level will require rethinking governance mechanisms to align internal incentives and manage the process. As part of Deutsche Bahn’s strategy to become climate neutral by 2040, the company enlisted 200 environmental coordinators to oversee the implementation of green projects. These coordinators work closely with other DB employees and managers to synchronize implementation across the organization, ensure adherence to environmental protection regulations, and identify environmental risks.

GATHERING SPEED

Fortunately, as governments look to meet their net-zero goals, many are setting policies to encourage growth in rail transport. As part of its Green Deal, for example, the EU plans to invest €260 billion in all forms of rail transport. By offering a range of incentives, the EU hopes to grow the share of freight shipped via rail within its borders from 17% to 30% by 2030. In the US, the newly enacted Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $102 billion for passenger and freight rail in the next five years (an increase of $87 billion from current funding levels) and an additional $106 billion for public transit alone.

China already boasts the world’s largest high-speed rail network and, under its National Rail Plan, hopes to double its footprint by 2035. To make its rail network truly sustainable, however, the country must substantially increase its use of renewable energy. Likewise, India plans to increase the share of freight shipped by rail from 27% to 45% by 2030 and to fully electrify its rail network using renewable sources of electricity.

In addition to these government efforts, proponents of rail transport can point to several underserved segments and geographies where rail has inherent advantages. If managed properly, they have considerable potential for attracting further financial and governmental support—and most important, more customers. They include:

  • High-Speed Rail. Since 2004, the world’s high-speed rail network grew 350%. Most of that growth took place in China, and the results are impressive. The country now boasts two-thirds of the entire world’s high-speed network, and passenger activity there more than doubled between 2004 and 2016. Its success shows that high-speed rail can succeed in developed countries with large populations, especially when the distance between cities isn’t too long. Other recent projects include Morocco’s Tangier-to-Casablanca line (350 kilometers) and Saudi Arabia’s line connecting Medina with Mecca (450 kilometers), which officially opened in 2018. Additional projects are planned for India, the US, Canada, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
  • Freight in Emerging Countries. Given the necessity of shipping heavy cargo across long distances, countries like Russia, Canada, Australia, and the US already have well-developed freight networks. Emerging countries with similar needs are likely candidates for further expansion, and several are already developing national plans to do so, including Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. India’s Dedicated Freight Corridor has already built 3,260 kilometers of additional lines over two primary corridors, with plans to more than double the length of new track in coming years.
  • Urban Metro and Light Rail. While Europe, China, and Japan account for the great majority of urban and light-rail systems, there is considerable room for further growth in densely populated countries. Construction of urban rail networks has increased rapidly in recent years—primarily in Asia—with more on the way. The US has proposed $225 billion in new projects, while Australia is planning to invest $140 billion in systems in Sydney and Melbourne. An additional total of $140 billion has been earmarked for systems in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Ecuador, and South Africa.

Ongoing efforts by the rail transport industry to boost its sustainability, efficiency, and flexibility have already begun to attract new customers—especially in freight but also in passenger rail. Yet to continue to build its customer base and contribute even more to the fight against global warming, the industry will need the support of five key stakeholders (see Exhibit 6):

green rail travel

Policymakers. Governments will be central in providing the policies, funding, and incentives needed to sustain the industry’s growth. Policies and plans at the national level are needed to promote rail not just as a more efficient and sustainable transport mode but also to meet national sustainability targets. Policies must include clear objectives for the rail sector and ensure a level economic playing field, given that rail uses less land, causes fewer accidents, and creates less noise pollution and congestion. Governments across the EU, for example, have reduced track-access fees to promote the use of rail for freight traffic while introducing additional usage fees and taxes on high-polluting industries, such as aviation and automotive. Direct governmental subsidies have helped support rail in many countries, including the US, China, and Saudi Arabia.

Adequate funding, however, is critical. Rail is a very capital-intensive business; in addition to subsidies, governments can implement funding mechanisms to provide the necessary capital for major rail projects. Public funds can be earmarked for specific brownfield and greenfield projects, and policymakers can help create the right incentives for increased private capital investment. For example, France’s “ecotax” on air travel—which adds between €1.5 and €18 to the price of every flight—is expected to raise more than €180 million annually, with the funds to be reinvested in ecofriendly transport, primarily rail. In the US, the Biden administration’s infrastructure bill sets aside $68 billion for passenger and freight rail upgrades. And, as mentioned, the EU’s Green Deal proposes investments intended to grow rail’s share of freight traffic to 30% by 2030.

Governments can also advance the rail agenda through direct legislation. They could, for example, encourage infrastructure owners to increase third-party access to their systems to incentivize competition. And legislators could enact laws cutting through the bureaucratic red tape that often slows new rail projects and policy changes, smoothing the licensing and approval processes, for instance. Brazil recently passed legislation designed to promote private investment and foster the development of infrastructure through the simplification of rail regulations and other measures. As a result, investments are expected to increase significantly.

Governments also have many ways to directly incentivize the growth and use of rail. Subsidies can be used to promote rail for operators, shippers, and passengers alike, increasing the transport mode’s economic competitiveness compared with other, less sustainable alternatives. Several countries in the EU have reduced rail freight’s track access fees to encourage companies to ship by rail rather than trucks. And Germany’s new government coalition has reduced the size of the trucks that must pay fees on their CO 2 emissions from 7.5 metric tons to 3.5 metric tons.

To level the playing field further, governments could disincentivize higher-polluting modes of transport and the use of fossil fuels generally. The congestion charge imposed on drivers in London, for example, is designed to discourage car trips and raise funds to support public transportation. Countries are already enacting and enforcing laws intended to restrict the use of trucks, such as labor laws regulating working hours for drivers, limiting access of high-polluting trucks and cars to metropolitan areas, and taxing transport modes based on their sustainability.

Investors. By providing needed capital and encouraging the use of rail on the part of their portfolio companies, private investors can help promote its growth. Thanks to these investments, infrastructure owners could maintain, upgrade, and expand existing networks and build new stations. Operators could likewise maintain and upgrade, as well as acquire, new rolling stock and pursue technologies to increase sustainability and efficiency. And suppliers could invest in the development of digital solutions in the same spirit.

Some investors are purchasing rail operators outright. In 2019, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, together with Singapore’s GIC, acquired Genesee & Wyoming, a freight-services provider in North America and Europe with over 21,000 km of owned and leased tracks. The $8.4 billion deal will enable Brookfield to further its net-zero infrastructure goals, in part by encouraging its other portfolio companies to ship goods over the company’s freight network.

Private investors are also coming to recognize the importance of having sustainable investment portfolios when managing risk and bolstering returns. Setting comprehensive emission targets for portfolio companies would encourage increased use of sustainable options, such as rail, throughout supply chains.

Suppliers. It is in the best interest of the industry’s suppliers to work with operators and infrastructure owners to enhance rail’s attractiveness to customers. Accordingly, they should collaborate to develop products for the industry that boost its sustainability, lower costs for customers, and improve the rider experience.

Alstom, for example, is working with Dutch infrastructure owner ProRail to develop automatic shunting locomotives to demonstrate the viability of fully automated trains. Siemens and Deutsche Bahn are testing the use of hydrogen to power trains on nonelectrified lines. Deutsche Bahn is also heading up a consortium of freight operators, OEMs, and leading engineering providers to develop and test digital automatic coupling. By automating the coupling process, this technology will allow trains to be put together faster and more flexibly, reducing risk for workers, and increasing rail’s competitive position and market share across Europe.

Infrastructure Owners. Establishing new rail networks and increasing the utilization of current networks are critical actions for expanding rail’s share of transport. Shippers and passengers must have the flexibility to move goods or travel where and how they want to. This will require developing new infrastructure projects—and not just new lines on denser networks. New stations, terminals, maneuvering yards, catenary power systems, and renewable energy sources will also be needed.

At the same time, owners must increase the utilization, efficiency, and overall performance of their existing infrastructure. Networks must be properly maintained and upgraded regularly to ensure safety; to boost sustainability, efficiency, and speed; and to promote passenger convenience and comfort. To that end, owners must incorporate new technologies to enhance the efficient use of their infrastructure.

One way to boost network demand is to increase the availability of multimodal transport options, especially now that passenger and freight clients are taking an end-to-end view of the customer journey and freight logistics. OBB, Austria’s national railway, offers charging points for electric vehicles at train stations and has even developed its own electric-car-sharing fleet. Added bicycle parking and special railcars help ease the journeys of bicyclists. Freight infrastructure, too, can take advantage of added intermodal options. In support of the country’s sustainability goals, Belgium’s Infrabel, for example, has committed to increasing the proportion of freight moved via rail by improving intermodal connections at the port of Zeebrugge.

Infrastructure owners will also need to engage with policymakers, investors, suppliers, operators, and customers to ensure the success of these projects. Regular and open communication will help attract shippers and passengers, creating the customer demand needed to generate the expected returns.

Operators. Rail operators, too, must invest in enhancing the sustainability, utilization, efficiency, and overall attractiveness of their operations. To gain share from other transport modes, operators need to keep up with the maintenance and modernization of their rolling stock and take a more customer-centric approach throughout their activities.

Operators should completely rethink the entire customer journey to remove pain points in places that matter most to clients. Optimizing timetabling and dispatching will enhance the timeliness of operations, as will providing a superior interface for passengers and shippers and improving end-to-end connectivity with other transport modes. New technologies, such as mobile apps, can ease the ticketing and payment process and should be promoted to all customers through new marketing, sales, and pricing efforts. Further, operators can update stations and terminals with cafes, retail shops, working desks, and other amenities. And as the world emerges from the COVID pandemic, establishing health, safety, and cleanliness protocols will be key to attracting passengers back to rail.

As with infrastructure owners, active communication with key stakeholders regarding goals and successes will help operators optimize their systems and lift customer demand.

DRIVING WHEELS

Evidence of the increased attractiveness of rail can be found worldwide. Shippers, in particular, are taking advantage of rail’s sustainability and flexibility with impressive results. For example, as part of its effort to reduce its carbon footprint, UK grocer Tesco is shipping a significant proportion of fresh produce it sources from Spain by rail, a move that is expected to take 65,000 trucks off the road and reduce GHG emissions by 4,500 tons.

In a similar move, Swedish grocer Coop has contracted with a major European logistics firm to increase its use of rail (for shipping groceries to its outlets) from 10 to 20 trains per week, which will remove an estimated 520 trucks weekly from the country’s highways.

Operators and infrastructure owners looking to grow their customer base by becoming more sustainable would be wise to carry out the following four concrete steps:

  • Understand the potential impact of climate policies on your business and assess the current state of your company’s emissions. Determining the emissions baseline, reviewing ongoing emissions reduction initiatives, and benchmarking peers will enable you to understand and manage the risks and challenges in carrying out climate plans for your current business model.
  • Define your sustainability ambitions and strategy and lay out plans to deliver the desired future state. This step should include defining the sustainability value proposition for customers and developing new value-added products and services. Specific actions should include determining the impact and cost of particular initiatives and running scenarios to identify the most cost-effective options for reaching climate targets.
  • Begin the journey by defining a concrete roadmap and preparing the organization for change. The roadmap should outline the organizational structure and processes needed to reach targets and include lighthouse projects and quick wins that can smooth the transition. Begin from the top down to revamp your company’s people and culture for a low-carbon world, and revise processes to foster cultural change.
  • Engage the full ecosystem by partnering with suppliers and subcontractors across the value chain to explore and develop low-emissions technologies and practices. Collaborate with ecosystem stakeholders to promote a climate-friendly industry.

ALL SIGNALS ARE GREEN

Rail transport is essential for meeting global climate targets. Indeed, our net-zero goals will be far harder to attain unless we can increase rail’s use and sustainability. Despite having huge advantages in efficiency and sustainability, however, rail operators are finding it challenging to grow their customer base of passengers and freight. Cars and trucks continue to attract travelers and shippers, largely because of pricing, flexibility, and perceived security concerns.

Reversing this trend will take a concerted effort on the part of all major stakeholders. But rail operators have an inherent advantage—rail is already far more climate friendly than other transport modes. By continuing to increase its sustainability efforts, the industry will attract more customers looking to reduce their carbon footprints and lower their costs.

The more sustainable rail becomes, the more customers it will attract. And more customers mean more resources for improving sustainability. The task ahead for the industry is to complete and widen this virtuous circle.

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Managing Director & Partner

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Partner and Director, Rail

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Green Train Travel – Is Traveling by Train Finally Replacing The Plane?

Green Train Travel: Taking the time to explore the options of this sustainable alternative could be well worth your while, will help you reduce your own contribution to carbon emissions, and might very well lead to some unexpected delights. Just make sure that, if you choose to travel by train during the current pandemic , you are taking the necessary steps to stay safe, and consider the added benefit of being able bring a Dutch oven for camping .

By Susanne van Gendt

Table of Contents

Environmental hopes from green train travel

While it had long been possible to travel by train from North American cities like Vancouver and Calgary to mountain village hubs like those of Banff and Jasper National Park , many European countries have also seen an increase in train travel over the last few years. Dutch rail operator NS saw its third year of increasing international train travel in a row (13% in 2019, 10% in 2018, and 6,4% in 2017), Germany released its biggest railway modernization program in Germany’s history (86 billion euros) just this year. Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) also stated international rail services have grown significantly during the first half of 2019.

Due to the PIA project (Pricing and International Offers) and the reintroduction of night trains across Europe (by Austria’s ÖBB Nightjet, while investing in new trains), it is now possible to cross the European continent with one single booking, while conveniently traveling overnight on some routes. These developments make it more and more easy to travel from Brussels to Vienna, or from Copenhagen to Paris or even London to Barcelona by train. Is traveling by train finally replacing the plane?

Enter COVID-19… in the midst of our battle towards a more sustainable society, the Coronavirus changed everything. Although COVID-19 made lots of victims and we would never wish for a pandemic to break out, there may be one upside to this eerie new reality: it may forever change the way we think about travel. Perhaps the outbreak might even cause us to go back in time: travel locally and explore our own backyards. Luckily, there is one way of travel that we still can rely on for our local journey: the good old train.

Green Train Travel: person and dog walking along train tracks

A short history of train travel in Europe

The oldest sign of something similar to a railway is known to have been built in Ancient Corinth in the 6 th century BC. The Diolkos is a stone trackway across the isthmus of Corinth, that was used for transporting ships and cargo between the Saronic and Corinthian gulfs. The wagons that traveled on the Diolkos moved along some sort of carved grooves in the stone road and from the way the track was laid out, traffic probably moved in one direction at a time. It is no surprise that the first trackway system was introduced in Corinth, as Corinth was one of the largest and most important city-states in ancient Greece.

According to various sources, the Reisszug funicular railway at the Hohensalzburg Fortress in Austria might be the oldest operational railway. The original line, that was built in 1496 was operated with sleighs. In 1504 the system received its first renovation and from then on used wooden rails and a hemp haulage rope and was operated through a treadwheel by human or animal power. However, the current line is powered by an engine and in 1951 the rails were exchanged and went from narrow-gauge to normal railway.

The old railway system needs frequent servicing and was updated again in 2004. The Reisszug is not accessible to the public since it departs from the Nonnberg nunnery, but it is visible from beyond the Nonnberg area. The railway used to transport cargo and people and is still an important route for the restaurants of the fortress.

In the 1550s, wagonways with wooden rails and horse-drawn traffic are known to have been used for transportation to and from mines in Europe. In the 16 th century there are many references to the usage of wagonways in Central Europe, for instance for transportation to or from mines, quarries, waterways or ports. The wagonways were the wooden tracks that the carts, that also had wooden wheels ran on.

Advances in technology made further development of the trackway system possible. As wrought iron and cast iron became popular materials used for building and infrastructure, the rail system got upgraded by nailing protective iron strips to the rails. In 1767 the first full-iron rails were introduced. By the middle of the eighteenth century, stationary steam engines were generally available in the mining industries. The steam engines were used in steep uphill sections of the wagonways.

The development of the first steam locomotives took place in the United Kingdom, in the early 19 th century. Nigel Gresley, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), developed some of the most famous locomotives, including the LNER Class A4, 4468 Mallard. With a maximum speed of 126 mph, the locomotive still holds the record for being the fastest steam locomotive in the world. Another important change to the railway system was introduced in the early 1900s, with steam locomotives being gradually replaced by electric and diesel locomotives. In the late 1930s railways were fully converted to electric and diesel power and most steam locomotives were retired by the 1980s.

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Recent developments in European train travel

Around the same time the steam locomotives retired, the first high-speed rail lines were built in Europe (1980s and 1990s). The TGV (which stands for Train Grande Vitesse) was the first high-speed train that ran a service in Europe. The train was designed and manufactured by Alstom and originally ran in France. At the moment, it runs all over France and beyond, with destinations in Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany.

Besides the TGV, a variety of high-speed trains is active in Europe. For instance, the German high-speed train ICE connects Germany to Denmark, France, Switzerland, The Netherlands and Belgium. Fellow player Eurostar connects the United Kingdom to The Netherlands, Belgium, and France. And there are many more players in the field.

That the field is crowded shouldn’t come as a surprise, as the development of a Trans-European high-speed rail network (called TEN-R) is a stated goal of the European Union, defined by the Council Directive 96/48/EC on 23 July 1996 . Almost six years later, Commission Decision 2002/735/EC (30 May 2002) was added in relation to this directive, in order to define the technical specifications for the interoperability of the system. Since 2000, the EU has invested over 23.7 billion EUR into high-speed rail infrastructure.

According to a 2018 report , 9 selected European countries held nearly 9.000 kilometers of high-speed rail in total. High-speed rail is defined as lines or sections of lines on which trains can run 250 kilometers per hour or faster at some point during the journey. The rail system includes advanced infrastructures as tunnels or bridges.

A few breathtaking examples: the Swiss Landwasser Viaduct, which consists of six limestone arches resting on five high pillars, and the Scottish Forth railway bridge, a steel cantilever construction just west of Edinburgh , that is a symbol to Scotland. Switzerland plays a large role in advanced rail infrastructure, as the longest and deepest rail tunnel in the world (Gotthard Base tunnel, 57 km long) is also Swiss made.

However, defined goals and large investments are by no means a guarantee to success. The most important challenge of the European high-speed rail system is uniformity. With a lot of players in the field, it can be extremely challenging to plan an international journey with different high-speed rail operators in different countries. Before uniformity can be reached, some technical and administrative barriers need to be lifted, according to a 2018 report by the European Court of Auditors .

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Increasing possibilities of routes and journeys

The lack of uniformity in the variety of European rail services does not mean that one is not able to plan international train journeys. All you need is persistence and creative thinking. This way, with the help of some handy websites, planning your next trip can be a lot of fun. It can even open up many itineraries you wouldn’t have thought were possible to undertake by train.

Flash forward to January 2020, when a new Interrail pass was introduced. The four-day Interrail pass is valid for any four days within a one-month period. This provides the opportunity to break down each leg of the journey or plan a quite flexible and relaxed round-trip. At last, international train travel may come within reach for those travellng on a budget, as prices for the four-day Interrail pass start from EUR 185, – in second class for 12-27-year-olds and EUR 246, – for adults (28+).

Interrail Global Passes are a great solution for any international train traveler in Europe, as the Global Pass allows you to travel to 30+ countries within Europe. From Poland to Portugal, Slovenia to Sweden or Finland to France: with over 40.000 destinations within Europe, the possibilities are endless.

Flash forward three months, and the Coronavirus limited almost all of our possibilities to travel, also by train. With famous travel destinations as Spain and Italy closing their borders to foreign visitors, most international train services have been highly restricted or even temporarily canceled. However, leading up to summer, the COVID-19 outbreak seems to be more and more in control, with countries opening up again for tourism in the high-season months. Although the borders of the EU will not yet open for non-EU visitors, EU-residents can slowly start to plan their summer vacation in another country in Europe.

That is if COVID-19 will keep quiet… Because anticipation comes close to exhilaration – at least in terms of holiday planning – we present some of the most fascinating European train journeys. To actually start planning your trip or merely to dream of and to keep in mind.

Fascinating European train journeys (single service)

Glacier express.

The Swiss Glacier Express is the slowest express train in the world. The train travels over 291 km of tracks and takes you from St Moritz in the Eastern Swiss Alps to Zermatt in the Western Swiss Alps. The panoramic journey passes through 91 tunnels and crosses 291 bridges and the 2033 m high Oberalp Pass. The trains are outfitted with panoramic windows and a partly panoramic roof so you will be able to see the tops of the mountains and the beautiful winter wonderland that you are traveling through. The journey takes between 7,5 and 8 hours in total. Read more about this journey on the Interrail website >

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Caledonian Sleeper

The Caledonian Sleeper offers two different routes: the Highlander and the Lowlander route. The Highlander route runs between London Euston and Fort William, Inverness, and Aberdeen. The Lowlander route runs between London Euston and Glasgow Central or Edinburgh Waverley. The train service connects Central London in a budget-friendly and sustainable way to the various parts of Scotland.

Besides that, the sleeper trains are quite comfortable; some rooms are even equipped with double beds and showers. The sleeper service runs every weeknight except Saturday night. The London to Edinburgh route takes a mere 7,5 hours overnight, while the London to Fort William journey takes about 13,5 hours. The Highland route, in particular, provides stunning views over the Scottish Highlands. Popular train blog The Man in Seat 61 has a lot of helpful information about this service >

Inlandsbanan

Another scenic route is the Inlandsbanan: a 1,288-kilometer-long Swedish railway line between Kristinehamn in Värmland Province and Gällivare in the province of Lapland. Gällivare is a small Arctic town 100 km above the Arctic Circle that is frequently visited by tourists because of the scenery. UNESCO World Heritage Site Laponia breathes pure wilderness. Therefore, the train service only runs during the high season from mid-June until the end of August. The Interrail website provides more info on this journey >

More interesting European train journeys (multiple services/transits)

London to lisbon by train.

With high-speed railway all over Europe, it’s become increasingly easy to travel across Europe by train. If you would, for instance, travel from London, United Kingdom to Lisbon, Portugal, you would need only three different trains and 24 hours to arrive at your destination. First, you would need to take a Eurostar from London to Paris and transfer in Paris to take a TGV to French border village Hendaye. From Hendaye, you will take an overnight Sud Express train that will take you all the way to Lisbon. Again, The Main in Seat 61 has a lot of useful information on this route.

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Hanover to Barcelona by train

If you were to travel from Hanover in Germany to Barcelona in Spain, you would need only three trains as well. First, you’ll travel from Hanover to Frankfurt on Deutsche Bahn’s ICE, to transfer to an ICE or TGV to Paris. From Paris, you’ll be able to travel directly to Barcelona on a TGV. This journey only takes about 19 hours. You can plan this journey using the Interrail website.

Paris to Budapest by train

To get from Paris, France to Budapest, Hungary, you would need to take only two trains. First, you’ll take a TGV from Paris to Munich. From there, you’ll transfer to a EuroNight sleeper train. The journey only takes about 18 hours from Paris. If you were to travel from London to Budapest, you would add a Eurostar from London to Paris as the first leg of the journey. The complete route would take you less than 24 hours. Read more about the possible routes and journeys on The Man in Seat 61 >

Get creative!

But there’s so much more to explore. Just get creative and start imagining the possibilities when combining different legs or journeys. Think about combining the Amsterdam to London route on Eurostar with a Caledonian Sleeper to the Scottish Highlands, or travel from Paris to Budapest and from there, board a direct train to Bucharest, Romania. The above itineraries just show the potential routes from one city to another. From there you will most likely be able to travel to a variety of regions within the country, by means of regional trains. This will allow you to really explore the country’s nature and culture, and not just the cityscape.

Under-tourism

Those regional trains that will take you across almost any European country, highlight another important point of green travel: under-tourism. Under-tourism goes against over-tourism, which is a serious problem in many European capitals as Amsterdam, London and Barcelona . Under-tourism means visiting less-frequented destinations, and striving for a deeper experience of the destinations’ culture instead of the common hit-and-run tourist principle. National Geographic provides a few suggestions for sustainable destinations in this article. However, with more and more people striving towards under-tourism, suggestions like those need to be updated frequently, to avoid under-tourism destinations becoming the subject of over-tourism in the end.

So how does under-tourism work? It’s actually pretty simple: look into destinations that are off the beaten track and match your personal interests. If you’re a hiking fanatic, consider trails in the lesser-known Balkan region, or visit the Alpine Pearls : a network of 21 environmentally friendly car-free villages in the German, Austrian, Italian, Slovenian, and Swiss Alps.

Lovers of sea and waves could opt to travel up north instead of heading south: Norway, Denmark, and Ireland are home to some of the better lesser-known European surf spots. The list of possibilities is close to endless. Use your imagination to tailor trips to your individual needs instead of following the crowd. In case you really want to contribute to the local society, check out destinations where tourism is needed in order to further develop the community.

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New train journeys in 2020

In December 2020, new journeys with origin Amsterdam are being introduced by Austrian ÖBB Nightjet. The Austrian comfy sleeper trains will take you from Amsterdam to Münich (in Germany) or Innsbruck or Vienna (in Austria). The expanding of Austria’s main rail operator Österreichse BundesBahnen (short: ÖBB) makes Vienna the best-connected city by rail in Europe in 2020. No European city has so many connections to other European capitals; only Moscow comes close.

German Deutsche Bahn also plans to improve its passenger services in 2020. The six-hour journey from Berlin to Warsaw is being reduced by 30 mins from summer 2020, and a new Railjet service is being introduced from Berlin to Graz via Dresden, Prague, and Vienna from May 2020 on. New night services are being introduced in the Zürich to Berlin and Zürich to Hamburg routes on December 15.

The benefits of train travel over other travel methods

  • The scenery. Because you’ll travel overland, traveling by train will most likely provide beautiful scenery along the way. Besides that, you’ll handily avoid the chance of getting stuck in traffic jams, as you would when traveling by car.
  • The level of comfort. We’ll opt for comfy sleeper trains over cramped airplane seats any day. Some of the sleeper trains even provide rooms with double beds and showers. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner can sometimes be reserved in a special restaurant cart. What more can you wish for when traveling?
  • It’s sustainable. Needless to say: traveling by train is far more sustainable than traveling by car or plane. BBC’s Science and Environment section provides a handy plane vs train comparison for traveling from London to Madrid in this article . The article also supplies links to other helpful websites. The Man in Seat 61 published a plane vs train CO2 emission comparison for a variety of destinations. You’ll find the overview here .
  • Less luggage restrictions. Of course, there are limitations to the luggage you can take with you on the train, but it certainly won’t be as bothersome as luggage restrictions on airplanes. Many trains will allow you to take multiple backpacks, weekend bags or suitcases with you on the train. Given that they won’t weigh each piece of luggage, this gives you a bit more freedom in what to take with you on your trip. We do advise to travel light since that’s more sustainable and definitely more carefree.
  • Getting around. Traveling by train doesn’t mean you won’t have any form of transportation at your destination. Some of the European high-speed trains are equipped with designated areas for bicycles, for which you can reserve a space. Other trains allow you to take a folded or partially dismantled bike without any reservation or fee on top. You’ll find a helpful overview here . This makes getting around upon arrival super easy (if you’re traveling light, that is) and won’t break the bank as much as taking public transport all over town.
  • No stress. Yes, you do need to board your trains a bit in advance, but border control checks (which only happen occasionally between Schengen countries) consist of just handing in your passport for a quick check, instead of queuing in a long airport line. Besides that, most international trains are equipped with power sockets for smartphones and laptops, and some of them (for instance German ICE) even have Wi-Fi on board. If you want, you are actually able to enjoy slow travel and plan the different legs of your journey in a flexible way. Stay overnight in a transit city if you want, or use the sleeper trains for efficiency. With the near -endless possibilities of train travel, it’s really up to you to decide.

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Helpful websites to plan your train journey

  • Seat61: we’ve already mentioned this popular train blog in this post. And that’s by no means by accident: Mark Smith, the owner of the blog, has written down just about any inside information you might need to plan your trip. From how to buy train tickets in not-so-digitally-savvy-countries to the levels of comfort on various types of trains.
  • Interrail: find out more about the different Interrail passes or discover recommended routes. The website also has a small section about traveling on a budget.
  • Trainline: this website helps you plan your train and bus journeys across Europe. Trainline is an official distributor for a variety of (international) rail operators. Its comparison module helps you to choose the most competitive price.
  • Carbon Footprint: this website holds information about anything related to our carbon footprint. From carbon calculators to CO2 reduction and carbon offsetting.
  • The Travel Foundation: an international sustainable tourism charity that pursues forms of tourism that benefits local people. Their website has a lot of background information on sustainable tourism, for instance about local products and supply chains, about water, waste, and energy or about wildlife and the environment. Their motto: “If we do tourism right, destinations won’t survive, they’ll thrive.” And that statement fits our line of thinking exceptionally good.

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Paving the Way for Green Travel: Rail Beats Air with 13x Lower Carbon Emissions, Reveals New Calculator

The Green Travel Pledge methodology pioneered by Thrust Carbon on behalf of the rail industry, demonstrates the critical importance of rail as a business travel medium

Written by Cameron Kelly on 30 June, 2023

Businesses rely on good data to make the right travel decisions

65% of Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) members agree that quantifying carbon emissions reduction opportunities is the most challenging aspect of addressing sustainability. As we work to enhance the data that goes into reporting carbon emissions, net zero goals become more achievable. This couldn’t be more true for Great Britain’s rail industry, where the methodology we’ve built with the Rail Delivery Group, Great British Railways Transition Team, and Fabrik, is showing that rail travel creates 10 times less carbon emissions per passenger than the equivalent car journey and 13 times less than travelling by plane.

As businesses become increasingly conscious of their environmental impact, they are beginning to explore ways to make business travel more sustainable. When data accuracy improves, travel choices become clearer.

Introducing the Green Travel Pledge rail carbon calculator

As experts in sustainability intelligence, Thrust Carbon was chosen to collaborate with the Rail Delivery Group, data partners Fabrik and the wider rail industry to develop a new methodology for calculating rail journey emissions with accurate and reliable data. The work is part of the rail industry’s Green Travel Pledge, which is a commitment to empower business travellers to make more informed choices on environmentally-friendly travel modes.

The Green Travel Pledge rail carbon calculator offers a detailed, route-specific estimation that takes into account the intricacies and diversity of rail operations. This advanced perspective combines seven rail data sets which have never before been utilised together to measure the carbon footprint of rail travel.

The rail carbon calculator reports emissions based on energy consumption metrics specific to different engine types, actual travel distance (including the literal twists and turns of the rail route, rather than a straight distance between start and end points), carriage count, class type, and crucially, passenger load.

Advancing the foundation of Defra

Although the UK Government's Greenhouse Gas Conversion Factors for Company Reporting, developed by Defra, has served as a valuable framework for measuring rail transport, the Defra methodology relies on dividing the total energy consumed by the UK rail network by the total distance travelled. This approach results in a generalised average emissions factor. While this methodology was a pioneering step in rail emissions accounting, it inherently fails to capture the nuanced variations across different rail routes, engine types, and passenger loads.

Recognising this limitation, we have collaborated with our partners to take it a step further. Our methodology elevates emissions estimation to the highest level of precision.

The preliminary results

We’re proud to release the preliminary results for journeys on the electrified rail route from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley Station.

The table below shows the increased accuracy of our methodology compared to the Defra average for the specific route from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley:

London to Endinburgh rail vs air

Our methodology has produced a figure of 12.5kg CO2e for the London to Edinburgh route, which is significantly lower than the Defra estimate for the same journey. Moreover, this notable reduction in calculated emissions highlights the environmental benefits of selecting rail travel over air travel. Our findings demonstrate that the carbon footprint of this rail journey is only a fraction of the 165.1kg CO2e associated with flying the same route using the Defra method. This clear comparison emphasises the potential for businesses to make a substantial contribution to their sustainability goals by choosing rail travel.

The following table shows how the methodology used for the rail carbon calculator compares to Defra’s approach:

* We took an average based on modelling of expected passengers from ticket sales between two points per weekday over the last 6 months

** We took the average number of direct trains between London and Edinburgh per week day

*** Used to inform train volumes (input 7a)

Rail comparison table

Graph showing the data Green Travel Pledge methodology considers vs DEFRA

A closer look at the rail carbon calculator methodology

Here's how our prototype methodology functions:

Energy Consumption Metrics: Rather than using general averages, we determine the energy consumed per kilometre by specific engine types on the electrified route from London to Edinburgh. This approach provides us with a more accurate representation of energy usage and resultant emissions.

Conversion to Carbon Emissions: By employing the UK energy grid emissions factor and the UK energy Transmission & Distribution (T&D) emissions factor, we convert energy usage into CO2 emissions, thereby establishing a link between energy consumption and its environmental consequences.

Allocation of Emissions Among Carriages: Our prototype ensures precise allocation of emissions between standard and first-class carriages based on their layout (with seating usually spaced out more in first-class) – a detail overlooked by the Defra methodology.

Per Passenger Emissions Estimation: This aspect holds particular importance. We calculate emissions per passenger for each carriage type, taking into account the average passenger load. This means we consider both peak and off-peak travel times, acknowledging that the carbon footprint per passenger decreases as passenger numbers increase. This load factor ensures an accurate reflection of the impact of passenger occupancy on carbon emissions.

Comprehensive Emissions Evaluation: Our methodology culminates in calculating a weighted average of emissions per passenger kilometre, providing us with an average emission rate for the specific electrified route.

Boundless opportunity

The precision of this methodology will not only provide businesses with more accurate emission data but also enable them to make informed, environmentally conscious travel decisions. This feature aligns with the anticipated modal shift from air to rail, highlighted in the ITM Buyer Priorities Survey 2023.

The pivotal role that rail travel can play in achieving sustainability objectives cannot be overstated. To fully leverage this potential, businesses need access to transparent, accurate emissions data - a need that is directly addressed by Green Travel Pledge carbon calculations. This precise estimation of rail travel emissions gives organisations a comprehensive understanding of the environmental impact of their travel choices.

In developing this prototype, we believe we are at the forefront globally of rail emissions estimation techniques. This prototype, however, represents more than just a tool—it's an inaugural step towards a future where businesses can better align their travel policies with sustainability objectives. Later this year, we will be working with the rail industry to make carbon emission data available to businesses for all rail routes across Britain.

Thrust Carbon is ready to support your goals

If you’re interested in hearing more about this groundbreaking venture, or how your organisation can effectively navigate the intricate landscape of travel emissions and make notable contributions to sustainability initiatives, please reach out to our Thrust Advisory lead: [email protected]

Our collective effort is a stride towards a world where every journey contributes to a greener future. We are ready to work with you to make every journey count. Are you?

For more information, reach out to our Thrust Advisory team or visit www.raildeliverygroup.com/gtp .

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What’s not to love about traveling? It broadens your horizons, connects you with people from all over the world and can leave you in a state of awe. But if you travel by train when possible, you'll also be helping to save the environment - because train travel is as green as it gets!

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Environmental impact

There is a clear downside to exploring the Earth’s treasures. The environmental impact of the travel industry is significant. In the US alone, an estimated 30% of greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to transportation. 

But you have a choice...!

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Sustainable travel

Aside from walking or biking, taking the train is the most environmentally friendly way of traveling. In fact, compared to cars and airplanes, trains emit between 66 and 75 percent less carbon. In terms of energy consumption, use of space, and noise levels, trains are far more sustainable too.

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When you're planning a trip through Europe, rest assured that traveling with a Eurail Pass is your greenest option. The CO 2 emissions of an average Eurail trip are about 3 times less per person than traveling the same route by car - and 4 times less than traveling by plane. 

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Want to see for yourself? The  EcoPassenger website  helps you to calculate the environmental impact of your journey through Europe. You can compare the emissions and energy consumption of planes, cars and passenger trains.

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Green | how green is rail travel, how green is rail travel.

green rail travel

Eurostar, the high-speed train service that connects London with Paris and Brussels, advertises a tenfold reduction in each traveler’s carbon footprint by comparison with an airplane trip over similar distances.

In Britain, government officials have described the investment of billions of pounds in a new high-speed rail network as a green initiative. The Obama administration has budgeted billions of dollars to build similar networks in the United States, partly to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

But do all forms of train travel really offer such dramatic gains?

According to a study by Mikhail V Chester and Arpad Horvath of University of California, Berkeley , some train systems should be seen as nearly on a par with travel in large aircraft in terms of greenhouse gases emitted for each mile a passenger travels. Both air and train also produce fewer emissions for each mile of passenger travel than cars or buses (although, of course, planes generally go much farther than trains, buses or cars, so their overall emissions will be higher).

The study, published in June, compares light rail and regional commuter rail systems in Boston and California with small, medium and large aircraft, as well as buses and cars. (It does not detail the environmental aspects of high-speed rail, which Edward L. Glaeser covers today on the Economix blog .)

Neglecting to take into account the emissions associated with constructing buildings like train stations and laying the tracks may make train travel appear far more environmentally friendly than it actually is, the authors found. “Most current decision-making relies on analysis at the tailpipe, ignoring vehicle production, infrastructure provision, and fuel production required for support,” wrote the authors. “We find that total life-cycle energy inputs and greenhouse gas emissions contribute an additional 63 percent for onroad, 155 percent for rail, and 31 percent for air systems,” relative to those vehicles’ tailpipe emissions.

The authors suggest modifying the way that trains systems are constructed to give rail more of an advantage — for example, by reducing the use of concrete or switching to other materials that are less greenhouse gas intensive.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

The comparison of ground and air transportation modes needs to consider the possibility of substitution to reduce emissions. The idea that less concrete might be used in construction for rail translates to air transportation as well since airport construction might be similarly modified. But, the use of liquid fuels in air transportation is unlikely to end while rail might switch to electricity and has on many routes. Electricity can be produced renewably with high efficiency, higher than fossil fuel production in fact. Liquid fuel production from potentially renewable sources suffers both efficiency problems and scale problems. This makes substitution more chancy for air transportation fuel.

When a fast rail link can replace an air link, one is on stronger ground assuring greenhouse gas emissions reductions than otherwise.

Tubular Rail Inc., a small Texas technology company that has patented “trackless trains,” knocks this issue out of the park because it does not need all the cost that comes with installing steel tracks or bridges and eliminates the time to do so.

Green transportation columnist Alan Kandel, writing for The Examiner just this week, took stock of Tubular Rail’s advanced train technology that’s focused on building its prototype system in Pecos, Texas, home to Texas DOT’s huge test track facility there.

Read Kandel’s column here: //tinyurl.com/my2r27 , then go to Tubular Rail’s Web site here: //www.tubularrail.com , and learn for yourself why we are as green as any transportation system can be and why we are one-third the cost of high-speed rail and one-fifth the cost of light rail, a significant cost saving when compared to the exorbitant cost of true high-speed rail trains.

Moreover, we are an American company that can create thousands of middle class manufacturing jobs where ever our technology is built. Compare this fact to the fact that foreign firms are drooling to take a big bite out of the hundreds of billions the US will need to spend to achieve even a modicum of a high-speed rail system that tries to catch up to the European/Asian models.

Come on America, we are the train transportation equivalent of Ohio’s Wright Brothers, ready to bring a new mode of transportation to every state who wants to retrofit themselves for the 21st Century.

The means are important, but all this article is doing is giving those who support inaction more fuel to throw on their fire. Obviously these old regional transport systems have inefficiencies. This study should be used to encourage transitioning to hybrid trains or fully electric systems, not undermining the stimulus plan and keeping cars on the road.

Another cost ignored- the permanent loss of photosynthetic capacity of the land covered with rails, gravel, and pavement.

And water infiltration capability.

My guess would be the rail guys come out much the worse on those; and the costs are FAR from trivial.

I’m afraid we desperately need an oversight body for these kinds of calculations. And then somebody to oversee them. :-)

How many square miles are under pavement for airports? How many for rail? How many gigtons of carbon used to be fixed by grasses and trees growing on that land?

I’d like to see the consideration of productivity in this analysis.

We use energy to make us more productive. So what’s the most productive transportation method for the energy used?

High speed rail seems very productive. Passengers have much quicker transitions to and from rail. It has much less security concerns. Passengers can work electronically freely throughout the journey.

Driving seems very unproductive during the trip, flying doesn’t get productive until a certain distance is achieved.

The Chester and Horvath paper doesn’t provide a particularly good comparison between rail and air. The rail examples they examine are commuter and transit systems, whereas commercial aircraft are used for intercity services — and comparatively long hauls at that. Subsonic airliners are very efficient at providing longer-haul transportation services, but even ignoring practicalities could not replace (say) the SF Muni’s services at anything like the life-cycle energy consumption of SF Muni.

To the extent the life-cycle energy and GHG factors Chester and Horvath report are applicable to the relative GHG emissions of HSR versus air travel, it’s straightforward to calculate that if operating GHG emissions are 1 for rail and 10 for air, then including life cycle costs gives 2.55 for rail and 13.1 for air; the rail trip still provides a fivefold reduction in GHG emissions.

The important thing here, too, is that high-speed trains can run on electricity long-term. It requires no continuous fossil fuel feedstock (depending on local power plants), whereas jet flight will always require some form of jet fuel (kerosene).

The cost of a power plant can be amortized over time. The cost of jet fuel will almost always be higher one year after the next. And not only can the cost of the power plant be amortized, but also can the carbon costs of putting together the track be amortized over the life of the line. Rails hold up remarkably well compared to interstate highways, which cover far more area and are made with asphalt, another direct petroleum derivative.

When gas approaches $6 to $8 per gallon, most of our airlines will disappear forever. Only then will you see the kind of burgeoning demand necessary to make high-speed rail a reality in many places across America.

As time goes on and the price of oil continues up, regional networks in the Southeast, the Northeast and the Midwest will eventually be linked to a West Coast line, uniting the country with a true passenger train infrastructure that it hasn’t had for decades.

For a primer on what else happens to our lives as gas prices go up, see NPR story here:

//www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106695133

Greenpa is smoking something pretty green when suggests that rail destroys more photosynthetic potential than road. It’s one of the most absurd claims I’ve ever seen. Just looking at the Earth’s surface from a map shows how far off base this argument is. Don’t forget to include the blacktop required for parking lots, etc. to support a car-centered lifestyle.

Seems as though they are neglecting to amortize construction emissions over a reasonably long lifetime. For instance, most of London’s train stations were built in the mid-19th century.

And as for #4, it would be perfectly possible to design rail beds that could be planted with grasses or other low-growing plants, now that we don’t have to worry about sparks & cinders from wood-burning steam locomotives.

Anderkoo- you really might want to give up speed reading- it’s not working for you.

The entire discussion here is between rail- an airtravel; i.e. rail bed and airport paving.

Look at your maps again; now compare world railbeds, and world airports. How’s it look?

James: “And as for #4, it would be perfectly possible to design rail beds that could be planted with grasses or other low-growing plants, now that we don’t have to worry about sparks & cinders from wood-burning steam locomotives.”

I like your thinking; but there are still very hot sparks just from steel on steel contact, rare, but real- and sparks from “hotboxes”; also rare, but real, etc.

Still- you’re quite correct; much could be done there.

Only one of the posters came anywhere near mentioning the most important factor in discussing the different modes of travel; each is best suited for a particular trip length. Wake up America! Additionally, recently a Times article on California’s move to clean up truck emissions failed to mention that a portion of the freight now being moved by truck, should be carried by train. Finally, let’s talk Medevac Flights as they are transport. In the recent spate of articles and TV news reports, not one outlet even mentioned that nationwide, only 4% of these flights are necessary. Ignorance is bliss….

Does the study correctly assess and include environmental impacts of constructing airports and the highway networks required to support them, and does it include assessment of impacts of home/office to airport versus home/office to train station travel, and does it compare travel by the required by the maintenance and operating support personnel for train and air transport?

What am I missing here? The study seems laughably poorly conceived. Have you had a look? It compares the energy efficiency of local commuter and city rail systems to aircraft jaunts. So, you know, it’s more energy efficient to fly in a “large aircraft” than to travel in San Francisco’s Muni Light rail system. I suppose we’re all off to the airport and the 747 instead of the green line tomorrow morning. Boy will the boss be surprised when we taxi in to work.

Seriously. The list of comparison items also is bizarrely incomplete. Train stations lighting and escalators are expressly listed as sources of energy use tracked in rail but airports have no such listings. You know — airports hardly use any light at all. They tend to rely on moonlight to ensure good visibility on the tarmac, runways and terminals.

Apologies if I missed something, but someone please help. This study seems almost comically ill managed…

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In Europe, where many trains are electric, the emissions from rail travel can be as much as 10 times less than flying.

How to travel better: a beginner's guide to sustainable travel in 2023 and beyond

Sustainable, green, responsible — planet-friendly ways to explore the world are more popular than ever but how do you start to make better decisions when you travel? The first step is to understand what sustainable travel is and why it’s important.

What’s sustainable travel? Sustainable travel is about travelling in a way that’s sensitive to the climate and nature emergencies while ensuring that the wellbeing of the places we visit gain long-term benefit from us travelling there. It’s a balancing act between maximising the positives of travel while reducing or eliminating the negatives.

What’s happening and why? The concentration of carbon dioxide currently in the atmosphere is well over 400 parts per million higher than at any time in at least 800,000 years — and it’s still increasing, causing global temperatures to rise. The consensus is that a rise of just 1.5C will cause dangerous warming of the planet. The stability of our world’s climate hinges on whether we can keep this small rise in global temperatures in check and time’s running out. This is the decade that counts.

How does this impact the natural world? Commensurate with the climate crisis is the nature emergency: worldwide, 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction due to the intensification of agriculture and forestry, resource extraction, hunting, invasive species, urban sprawl, pollution and climate change. Yet, this is not just about the disappearance of remote rainforests or polar bears at the extremities of the planet – habitat and biodiversity loss are happening on a colossal scale in the UK, to our hedgerows and forests, our garden birds, and the fish in our seas.

What can you do about it? Being a sustainable traveller is not about making grand, one-off gestures, it’s a state of mind, an ongoing attitude to conscious adventure that influences all aspects of how we holiday, including what we pack in our luggage and how we travel out to destinations, as well as the choice of hotels and activities we take part in while we’re there.

The nature emergency, which is commensurate with the climate crisis, affects us all.

How do I even get started? To begin with, consider packing less: travelling lighter will reduce the chances of having to dispose of items; it makes it much easier to travel around, especially on foot, by bike or on public transport; and it’s more fuel efficient — especially noticeable if you’re travelling in an electric car. A useful device for packing economically is to consider the three Rs: Reduce: What can I get away with not taking; are there items that can double up for several uses? Reuse: What can I take that I can reuse over and over again? Recycle: What can I take that can be recycled once I’ve finished using it? Try to avoid taking single-use plastic, such as bottles, bags and straws, which break down over time into tiny microplastics that enter the food chain when they’re consumed by marine wildlife and ultimately cause serious health issues for humans. Instead, pack a refillable water bottle, coffee cup, Tupperware containers for food and toiletries, and a shopping bag — it’ll be handy not just as a replacement for buying a plastic bag at a supermarket, but also when you’re out buying food and groceries at a local market.

What’s the most important change that I can make? The single more significant way to reduce the carbon emissions of travelling is to tackle the transport portion, which is often responsible for at least 70% of the carbon emissions of a holiday. The most effective way to do this is to reduce the distance travelled and to travel in a way that burns less or, even better, no fossil fuels, using more sustainable modes of transport; or by not travelling in a vehicle at all, choosing instead to travel on foot, by bike or under sail. There’s a steep difference in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by aeroplanes compared with most land-based vehicles. There are concerted efforts to decarbonise air travel using alternative fuels and methods of propulsion (such as via electricity and hydrogen), but even the most optimistic predictions support that this change is at least a decade away for most airlines. For the time being, the emissions from just one long-haul flight can be more than those caused by someone driving a standard petrol car for a whole year. Taking the train within the UK emits about six times less than flying and taking the bus emits about nine times less. In Europe, where many trains (including Eurostar) are electric, the emissions from rail travel can be as much as 10 times less than flying.

And what if I do need to fly? If you do fly, bear in mind that there’s quite a large disparity between the carbon emissions of aircraft and the operating procedures of airlines, so do use online tools such as the ‘Greener Choices’ label on the search results provided by the flight search engine skyscanner.net , which flags up those flights that have less than average emissions.

While flying continues to be such a large polluter, consider adopting a more selective approach to flying: just as with the flexitarian approach to food where you eat a mainly plant-based diet and only occasionally eat lean meat and sustainably sourced fish, a similar attitude to flying could be that you mainly travel overland and only occasionally fly, staying for longer, and making the most of the flight by choosing a positive-impact holiday that benefits nature conservation and/or genuinely benefits the wellbeing of local communities.

Travelling lighter makes it much easier to travel around, especially on foot or by bike.

What does my carbon impact look like once I get to a destination? There are other factors that will affect your carbon emissions when you’re at the destination, including your choice of hotel and the food you eat. The average carbon footprint of a night in a typical hotel in the UK is about 31.1kg CO2, according to the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative, so choosing a hotel that has lower than average carbon emissions can make a significant difference to your holiday’s footprint. Thankfully it’s becoming easier to find green accommodation — keep an eye out for the green filters on specialist accommodation booking sites, such as Airbnb’s ‘off-the-grid’, Sawday’s 'Sustainable stars'   and   i-escape's 'eco rating', there are several online agencies that specialise in green accommodation, such as fairbnb.coop and myecostay.eu , and even the big online agencies, such as Booking.com , TripAdvisor and Google , now flag up eco-certified hotels in their search results. Many of these eco-certified accommodations do much more than reducing their carbon emissions, they’ll also reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill and reduce the use of chemicals and the amount of water they use.

Feasting on local, seasonal food washed down with the local tipple conveys a sense of place better than any travel brochure. It’s also much better for the environment as there are significant emissions of carbon arising from the ‘food miles’ associated with transporting food great distances. Whether it’s freshly baked bread for breakfast, salad from the local market for lunch, or the catch of the day at the nearby restaurant, choosing local isn’t just good for the planet, it’s also healthier and a great way to put money into the local community.

Where to go Some of the most colourful cities in Europe are a great choice for a green break, such as Bristol, Angers, Nantes, Zurich, Ljubljana and Copenhagen. Here, pragmatic local authorities are implementing the circular economy to create sustainable transport, housing and economic development policies that are accelerating their transition to net zero, which has the knock-on effect of improving the experience for sustainable travellers. For example, regenerative wetlands and connected green spaces help manage storm water, air quality and improve biodiversity, but also provide wonderful green sanctuaries that are great for appreciating urban nature or for just chilling out in parks and gardens across urban villages.

Choosing to travel by bike is one of the most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

And how to get around? Countries that have a modern, high-speed rail infrastructure make it easy to travel with a lower carbon footprint. Switzerland has an extensive public transport network across the country (the Swiss Travel Pass provides free admission to 500 museums as well as unlimited travel on trains, bus, boat and public transport in cities), while France, Spain, Italy and Germany have impressive high-speed rail networks, particularly between major cities.

What about long haul? Further afield, some countries have made concerted efforts to include tourism in their sustainable development goals. Following decades of tree clearing for agriculture and livestock production, in the 1980s the Costa Rican government implemented policies that have halted and reversed this deforestation. Today, over half of Costa Rica’s land is covered by forest, compared to just 26% in 1983, allowing it to make the most of the biodiversity in its rainforests and pioneer the concept of ecotourism, developing small-scale, high-end eco lodges that have contributed to the conservation of its rainforests. Guyana, too, is developing community-based ecotourism to fund the protection of its rainforests. Lodges such as Iwokrama River Lodge , Rewa Eco-Lodge and Surama Eco-Lodge enable visitors to enjoy the country’s incredible biodiversity, while contributing to its conservation and to the livelihoods of remote communities.

Where can I look for more information? Richard Hammond is a sustainable travel expert and founder of Green Traveller and the author of The Green Traveller: Conscious Adventure That Doesn’t Cost the Earth (£18.99, Pavilion).

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What makes train travel so eco-friendly? Age of the green train

Train travel is not only greener than alternative forms of transport, with flight delays, traffic jams and the rising cost of petrol, it’s becoming a more and more attractive option. Read on to find out about green trains and rail travel’s eco credentials.

It’s full steam ahead for green train travel

• rail is responsible for less than 1 per cent of the UK’s total CO2 emissions • rail creates around half the CO2 emissions per passenger per mile than cars • rail creates around a quarter the CO2 emissions per passenger per mile than domestic air travel • train emissions have reduced by around 25 per cent in the last 10 years • planned electrification, use of cleaner fuels and other energy-saving measures aim to cut rail CO2 emissions by 50 per cent in the long-run

Trains far greener than cars or domestic flights

Rail is one of the most carbon friendly forms of travel around. On average, CO2 emissions are about half per passenger per mile than with cars, and a quarter of what you get from planes. New technological advances also mean that train emissions have reduced by approximately 25 per cent in the past 10 years.

It’s true that cars have become cleaner over recent years, too, but only by about 9 per cent. Quite simply, rail travel is becoming greener, faster. There’s also capacity for trains to take extra passengers for a minimal environmental cost.

And when you compare rail travel to domestic plane travel, there’s no contest, as local air journeys have actually increased their carbon impact by more than 10 per cent in the last decade.

Switching to electric trains for an even greener future

The rail industry still has some way to go, however. It needs to switch more of its dirty diesel-powered trains to cleaner electric models, as electric trains are 25-30 per cent more CO2 efficient than diesel, according to figures published by ATOC, the Association of Train Operation Companies. Currently two thirds of the UK rail network still runs on diesel engines.

Electrification will also lead to increased train capacity and faster journeys, helping to attract passengers from more polluting forms of transport. Encouraging higher capacity on some services is also needed, as when a train isn’t full its average emissions per person are clearly higher.

New technology boosting rail travel’s eco efficiency – age of green trains

Other advances like the development of ‘regenerative braking’, where the power used to slow trains is re-used, will make further savings, as will training in ‘eco-driving’ techniques for train operators. On-train metering is also planned, which will help drivers monitor and reduce their train’s energy use.

Romance and style – you can’t beat the train

All in all, with adequate investment and a push for more electric trains, rail travel can only get greener. And besides the obvious environmental benefits, rail travel wins hands down on comfort and relaxation.

You can’t exactly get up and stretch your legs while motoring up the M1, and the poor legroom and narrow seats on planes rarely make flying a comfortable experience. Plus there’s no risk of traffic jams or queues at airport check-in desks with a train.

European green trains

You can’t beat the romance and style of train travel across Europe , and it’s much quicker than you might think to get to some of the continent’s great cities.

We all know that it’s just a couple of hours to Paris by train, but did you know it’s only a further three hours straight to Geneva, or just a shade over five hours from London to Amsterdam?

With high-speed rail links being expanded across Europe, it’s never been a better time to ditch the plane and start planning your city breaks by train.

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Earth911

Taking the Train for Sustainable Travel

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By Gemma Alexander

green rail travel

For many people, rail travel might suggest romantic images of the old West or the Orient Express. But not many Americans think of taking the train when they actually need to get someplace. Taking the train is rarely a practical option for travel in the US. And that’s a problem, because passenger trains are usually the most environmentally friendly way to get between two cities. It only takes a quick look at the carbon data and the rail systems elsewhere in the world to figure out that train travel should be a lot more than just a nostalgia trip.

Despite historical images of sweaty laborers shoveling coal to power trains belching smoke as they cross the landscape, train travel is one of the most sustainable ways to move around. Americans have some of the largest carbon footprints in the world, mostly because of our driving habits . Most of us generate more miles commuting than taking road trips , but when it comes to regional travel, automobiles are only matched by flights for carbon inefficiency.

By comparison , standard diesel rail travel generates a quarter the emissions of a single-passenger vehicle. And when the electricity source is low-carbon, electric trains generate only a small fraction of the emissions of a diesel train engine. Eurostar , which combines operational efficiency with an ever-increasing proportion of wind energy, generates only 2.4 kg CO2/person to travel from London to Paris, or 4 grams of carbon per passenger per kilometer.

State of the Train

Although Americans tend to think of train travel as slow travel , it doesn’t have to ruin your schedule. Japan introduced high-speed rail to the world with its construction of the shinkansen connecting Tokyo to Kyoto in 1964. The country still sets the gold standard for rail travel, with a network of “bullet train” lines that carries nearly half a million passengers daily among 22 cities. In 50 years of operation, the trains, which now reach speeds of 200 mph, have never experienced a passenger fatality or even accident-caused injury.

High-speed rail has been developing rapidly in the rest of Asia. China’s high-speed rail now carries more than twice as many passengers as its domestic airlines and has replaced some short-haul flight routes completely. The line connecting Beijing to Shanghai now generates more than $1 billion in annual profits. Although the primary focus is on freight, China’s Belt and Road initiative is exporting high-speed rail to its trading partners. A new passenger line connecting Yunnan province with the capital of Laos recently opened, and routes to the capitals of Thailand and Cambodia are planned.

The European Union has set a target of doubling high-speed rail travel by 2030, which will require major infrastructure investments and difficult regulatory changes. Train tickets are often more expensive than plane tickets in Europe, but rail travel provides a better travel experience , with generally more comfortable seating, fewer luggage fees, better accommodations for pets and children, and centralized stations.

Getting on Track

By contrast, the United States lacks even a single high-speed rail line and many cities do not even have access to passenger trains. The completion of the first transcontinental railroad was a pivotal moment in American history. But only a few decades later, the U.S. embarked on a love affair with the automobile that derailed train travel for nearly a century. Today, the U.S. is just beginning to consider the benefits of high-speed rail that other countries have enjoyed for decades.

The most advanced high-speed rail project in America is California High-Speed Rail , which will eventually connect cities from Sacramento to San Diego with up to 24 stations served by trains traveling over 200 mph. The project was approved in 2008, and construction began in 2015. The first segment of the high-speed line is expected to begin operation in 2030, running from Bakersfield to Merced.

Slower, traditional passenger trains are experiencing something of a rail renaissance , thanks to a $66 billion influx of federal funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act . Amtrak has announced plans to triple its annual investment in infrastructure and add new intercity services by 2025.

If you live in an area that would be served by one of the nearly half dozen regional high speed rail projects currently under consideration or in the planning stages, lend your support to the project. Let your state and Congressional representatives know that you want access to high-speed rail service.

In the meantime, consider taking the train for your regional domestic travel. Current rail system improvements are improving connections between big cities that are less than 300 miles apart. If you are traveling internationally, always consider taking the train for intercity travel at your destination. Not only will it make your travel more sustainable , but you could also save money . Even when it costs a bit more, rail travel is a cultural experience that will enrich the trip, and it definitely provides more interesting views than sitting in the aisle seat of a short haul flight.

Gemma Alexander has an M.S. in urban horticulture and a backyard filled with native plants. After working in a genetics laboratory and at a landfill, she now writes about the environment, the arts and family. See more of her writing here .

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A hydrogen-powered train will make transport history as Europe looks to become world leader in green rail travel

The first hydrogen-powered passenger trains built by Alstom SA are set to debut in Germany and establish a toehold for the technology in Europe.

After a lengthy trial period on a 123-kilometer (76-mile) track in Lower Saxony, Germany, commercial operations will begin next March, according to Carmen Schwabl, managing director at rail operator  LNVG . Alstom’s 14 Coradia iLint passenger trains will ply a regional line between Buxtehude, outside Hamburg, and the beach town of Cuxhaven.

Alstom has been promoting trains that run on fuel cells for more than five years as an alternative to carbon-emitting diesel engines. In addition to the German project, the world’s second-biggest rail equipment supplier won an  order  earlier this month from France’s national railroad for a dual hydrogen-electric train and has garnered other contracts in  Germany  and  Italy .

Its rival Siemens AG is also developing  hydrogen trains  and the European market is estimated to grow to tens of billions of dollars in the coming years as emissions rules get tougher. While battery packs or power lines can also be used to electrify rail travel and cut pollution, this isn’t always a practical solution depending on the route.

European Union lawmakers  reached a deal  this week to make the bloc’s ambitious climate goals legally binding, and stronger rules are expected to affect industries ranging from transport to energy production. The region’s railways are on average only about  54% electrified  and state-owned operators could face more pressure to replace polluting engines.

“Europe will definitely be the main market,” Alstom Chief Executive Officer Henri Poupart-Lafarge said Wednesday during a company webinar, citing France, Germany, Italy and the U.K. as countries with large diesel fleets. Fuel supply and infrastructure need to be expanded, he said, but “the trains are ready.”

There are substantial growth prospects for hydrogen trains in Europe, according to Morgan Stanley analysts. They estimate that by mid-century, the sector could be worth between $24 billion and $48 billion. By2030, trains running on hydrogen could make up one out-in-10 of those not already electrified.

Alstom expects more than 5,000 passenger trains running on diesel in Europe will have to be replaced by around 2035. It also says a quarter of all trains in the region use the fuel and will have to retired by around mid-century to meet climate goals.

European nations are already pouring money into subsidies for companies developing battery and hydrogen technology for vehicles. This could also be extended to the rail industry to replace diesel train engines.

“We will no longer buy any diesel units,” said  LNVG’ s Schwabl during the webinar. The railway operates 126 trains running on the fuel and is looking for alternatives.

In Austria, the federal railway OBB tested Alstom’s hydrogen train last year near Vienna and is evaluating how it compares with other systems for replacing diesel, Chief Technical Officer Mark Topal Goekceli said during the same forum.

“For longer distances and areas where we need more power, hydrogen has an advantage,” he said. “It seems that battery trains could have an advantage for short distances, but we need to sort this out.”

The costs to an owner of a regional passenger train are cheapest when it is powered by electric batteries, followed by diesel, hydrogen and then electric lines, according to clean energy research group BloombergNEF. The choice between batteries or fuel cells to replace diesel depends on factors like the length of the tracks, frequency of service and number of stops.

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Containers are loaded on freight trains at the railroad shunting yard in Maschen near Hamburg, Germany November 14, 2019. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

Why is 2021 the European year of rail? Image:  REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

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green rail travel

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Stay up to date:, supply chain and transport.

  • Recent disruptions to transport and its affect on supply chains has brought renewed attention to rail freight in Europe.
  • Rail freight can achieve climate neutrality without the need for any additional infrastructure and at the same time consumes six times less green energy than road transport.
  • Five critical digital technologies promise to make freight trains as easy to run across Europe as trucks.

International water researchers have predicted that 10% of inland waterways will run dry every summer but the future impact of this on supply chains might have been overlooked. Global supply chains are already constrained owing to capacity bottlenecks in ports and ocean-going vessels. Container rates are soaring: the costs of a container from Shanghai to Rotterdam, which was at $2,000 in December 2020 , more than quintupled to $14,000 by August 2021.

Have you read?

What is the future of rail travel, america’s infrastructure: back on track or off the rails.

Disruptions to transport on inland waterways bring into focus a mode of goods transport that rarely hits the front pages in Europe. In the US rail freight commands a market share of more than 30% , but this number is less than 20% in Europe. This is true for two main reasons: rail freight has to share its infrastructure with rail passenger traffic, which has priority over freight trains in terms of traffic, affecting freight delivery times and reliability.

Secondly, rail traffic in Europe remains highly fragmented on a country level, including in terms of technical standards and interoperability across borders (a remnant of the strategic relevance of rail for national warfare). Even though rail carries more than 50% of its load across international borders, it is still predominantly nationally organized. The promise of cross-border seamless transport in rail freight still remains largely unfulfilled.

Cars, planes, trains: where do CO2 emissions from transport come from?

Major European seaports such as Antwerp, Rotterdam and Hamburg are aware of the vulnerability of inland waterways and the effects of climate change. The reduction of Alpine snowfall and drier winters overall will likely decrease waterway reliability especially in summer and autumn and will increase the dependency on rail freight. The European Union Commission has declared 2021 the “Year of Rail” and the EU Green Deal framework published in July 2021 calls for a substantial shift to rail, with the “Smart Mobility Strategy” stating targets of a 50% increase in freight in the EU transported by rail by 2030 and 100% increase by 2050 .

Trains emit up to nine times less CO2 and particulate matter emissions than road transport and more of the remaining diesel locomotive engines are being replaced with electric alternatives. As a largely electrified mode of transport, rail freight has a natural advantage compared to the still largely fossil-fuelled based road freight industry that commands more than 75% of the European freight market share .

What is more, as European truck manufacturers commit to alternative fuel and electric vehicles for heavy goods transport, the significant task of converting fleets of long-distance road freight to battery or hydrogen-powered trucks will not take place until the late 2030s. There is the additional daunting challenge of building charging and refuelling infrastructure across pan-European highways, including a reinforced power grid that can handle these electricity demand loads.

Rail freight can achieve climate neutrality without the need for any additional infrastructure and at the same time consumes six times less green energy than road transport. This will remain highly relevant as the demand for green electric energy soars and continues to exceed supply in the coming years. But rail freight is not on a level playing field with road even though it is a cheaper mode of freight transport. The EU Commission has constantly raised truck tolls in the last 10 years making it significantly more expensive than rail (€ 9.0 cents/tonne-km for road versus € 1.3 cents/tonne-km for rail) .

Capacity reserves on rail tracks are more accessible through digitization

It is important to note that rail freight is much more efficient in terms of space than road freight, as a single train replaces 50 truckloads of traffic. Transport volumes in the European Union are projected to grow by 30% until 2030 , with capacity on Europe´s congested highways already very limited. Road transport could create leeway through better management of load capacity and increased use of autonomous modes e.g. platooning but implementing these things is still a long way off.

Yet, for rail freight, the digital revolution may have already arrived with five crucial technologies promising to make freight trains as easy to run across Europe as trucks. In addition, these technologies could free up more than 50% of the current capacity of the mainline track superstructure without the need to construct entire new lines . These developments include:

  • Digital automatic coupling enables automatic train (dis)assembly and brake testing with electro-pneumatic brakes and electricity and data flowing through the computer system on trains. Europe is the last continent to use manual couplers.
  • Autonomous train operations , similar to road convoys, allow mainline traffic operation under single-driver supervision as well as operations in shunting yards and fenced-in infrastructure without train drivers.
  • Digital platforms that finally provide more efficient, seamless international transport by allowing all stakeholders of the rail freight sector to openly exchange data and push data-enabled business models.
  • Harmonized European rail traffic management system (ERTMS) that unifies rail infrastructure operations across Europe for more safety and significant capacity improvement with only a single “On Board Unit (OBU)”, a communication device, per train across borders.
  • Digital capacity management by rail infrastructure managers will finally create automated and digitized train paths with full consideration of rail construction sites and allow real-time capacity management instead of lengthy and rigid manual processes.

Rail freight as a resilient mode of transport

Railway transport was the only mode of transport not significantly affected by lockdowns during COVID-19. Meanwhile, global seafarers and crews were stuck on their ships due to quarantine and disembarking regulations.

The reliability and efficiency of seaport-to-hinterland connections at a global scale may benefit greatly if rail freight in Europe can rapidly digitize and catch up to global standards. This will also help European seaports to upgrade their rail infrastructure and contribute towards stabilizing global supply chains, as they acknowledge the impact that climate change will have on their overall system for discharging loads to their customers. For once, the “European Year of Rail” may be more than just another promise.

The authors are indebted to Clemens Först (Rail Cargo Austria AG) and Geert Pauwels (Lineas S.A.) for their valuable contributions.

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What is green travel and how can you travel sustainably?

As travel continues to grow, our awareness of what green travel is and how to travel in an environmentally friendly way also needs to increase. We need to change the way we travel NOW!

green rail travel

Kate Maskedtravelsx

Jul 27, 2023

green-travel

As technology and infrastructure improve, the world seems to be getting smaller. The ability to travel the world is becoming accessible to more and more people as the cost of getting to another country is getting cheaper.

It’s no wonder that the travel industry is the second-fastest growing industry in the world . Looking at internet searches will give you a good idea of how much travel is growing. During the final quarter of 2022, 35% of all searches were for travel in 2023 . That’s a 55% increase from 2021 !

And I can only see it continuing to grow , as long as another pandemic doesn’t come our way!

Traveling is great, and the more people get to see different parts of the world, hopefully, the more tolerant and educated we become . But there are downsides to more travel, one of them being the impact that it has on the environment.

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, 8-10% of global CO2 emissions are caused by the travel and tourism sector, with the majority of these emissions being created by the travel to the destination. And sadly, these numbers will only get bigger as more people begin to travel  unless we consciously do something about it .

That’s where green travel comes in.

What is green travel?

Green travel has many different names — sustainable travel, ecotourism, conscious travel — but all of them essentially mean the same thing or at least follow the same narrative.

Green travel focuses on minimizing the impact on the local environment and communities. It’s about choosing ways to travel that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Whether it’s reducing or offsetting your carbon emissions, reducing waste, staying in eco-friendly accommodations, or shopping locally and supporting communities.

There are plenty of ways to travel in a green way, and that’s what we’re going to be exploring in this article.

Watch out for greenwashing

This needs to be covered pretty early on as you don’t want to try your best to travel sustainably and then realize that you’ve actually been greenwashed.

What is greenwashing?

Greenwashing is when a company tries to appear to be environmentally friendly and claims that its practices are sustainable, when in fact this isn’t true. They may try to emphasize sustainable aspects of their company to overshadow their bad practices that are having a devastating effect on the environment.

Demand for environmentally friendly products and operations is growing as more people want to do their part in looking after our planet. A lot of companies have seen this as an opportunity to boost their profits and attract new customers by advertising that they’re operating in an environmentally friendly way.

Examples of greenwashing

A quick Google search will reveal plenty of examples of greenwashing from brands that we interact with on a daily basis. Here are two well-known companies that thought they’d give greenwashing a go:

In 2020, Ryanair announced that they were Europe’s ‘lowest emissions airline’. I’m not sure how they reached this conclusion, but the Advertising Standards Authority certainly didn’t agree with this claim and quickly banned all of the ads promoting this.

McDonald’s is guilty too. In 2019, they introduced paper straws. Round of applause for Mcdonald's, right? No. Although they were trying to address the problem of plastic pollution, they just shifted the problem instead. The paper straws weren’t recyclable, and more trees were having to be cut down to make them!

How to spot greenwashing?

In an ideal world, we shouldn’t have to keep an eye out for greenwashing. Companies would be honest and actually try to look after our planet. Unfortunately, that’s not the world that we live in.

And greenwashing isn’t always easy to see. You often have to go out of your way to do your own research to verify the company's claims. You’ll have to look at third-party research and reports, and check the fine print of the company.

All we can do is try our best, and hopefully, the huge corporations start to adopt this attitude too.

How to travel sustainably: eco-friendly vacations

At times, trying to save our planet can feel hopeless. We often hear people saying "But I’m only one person. My actions aren’t going to make a difference". If everyone adopts this way of thinking then of course nothing is going to change!

If everyone starts to act more sustainably, especially when it comes to travel, then as a collective it will make a difference.

And green travel is easier than you think . There are plenty of ways and changes that you can make to your travels that can make them more sustainable:

Slow travel

Traveling slowly has so many benefits , but is often tossed to the side as travelers want to tick off as many places as possible. Whilst this is tempting, you end up only touching the surface of that country, missing out on truly learning about the culture and people of that place. 

When I travel slowly, my connections with places and people are so much deeper and more memorable. Try it, and I’m sure you’ll prefer it to being in a new place every few days .

Taking your time will also save you money . You can often negotiate better deals on accommodation if you’re staying for longer. You’re not constantly splashing the cash on transportation and you’ll probably cook more rather than eat out.

It’s also better for the environment . Instead of hopping on a flight every two weeks, you’ll be in the same place for longer.

Stay close to home

This is potentially one of the harder changes to make as the urge to see the world is so strong within many of us.

But staying close to home isn’t as bad as it sounds. Every country has something spectacular to offer , we just often overlook them if they’re in our own country. New and foreign things always seem more exciting, but take some time to look at things to do in your own country.

As I mentioned before, most of the carbon emissions from travel come from getting to the destination itself . By staying in your own country you’re removing this negative impact on the environment. If you live in Europe, maybe you can visit some of your neighboring countries and get there by train.

As well as being a more sustainable way to travel, it can save you money too. Your transportation costs will be significantly lower. No visas to think about either.

Choose sustainable destinations

green rail travel

Some countries are doing more than others to make themselves a sustainable destination to visit.

For example, Bhutan is one of the best ecotourism destinations in the world . Since 1991, Bhutan has been charging visitors a daily Sustainable Development Fee. The money is used on projects such as offsetting Bhutan’s carbon footprint from tourism, supporting community education, organic farming, and upskilling workers in the tourism industry.

The tourism fee is pretty expensive, at $200/day, but there’s a price to pay if we want to protect our planet.

A more affordable ecotourism destination is Slovenia which has made it easier for you to choose sustainable options. If an accommodation or tourism service has a Slovenia Green Label, you know that you’re helping to preserve local traditions and protect the environment.

It’s important to research a destination beforehand to see what they're doing to be more sustainable and protect their environment.

Continue reading about ecotourism and the top 10 ecotourism destinations .

Choose a place that will benefit from your visit

green rail travel

Some countries really don’t need any more visitors. A growing number of countries are now struggling with overtourism — when too many people visit the same destination, often leaving a negative impact on the environment and local communities.

You can probably already name a few places off the top of your head after seeing pictures of huge crowds fighting to witness the same tourist attraction. Some well-known examples include Rome, Bali, Barcelona, and the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.

Sure, there’s a reason why everyone wants to visit these places. They’re incredible and popular for a reason. But there are plenty of other lesser-known spots that you could visit instead.

Want to learn more about overtourism? Here’s what it is and how you can avoid it .

Think about what you pack

Green travel starts before you even pack your bags to leave . What you bring with you in your backpack will have an impact on the place that you’re visiting.

The first sustainable swap that everyone should be making is to reef-safe suncream . These suncreams don't contain chemicals that harm the coral and reef when you go swimming in the sea. Hawaiian tropics has a great reef-safe suncream that I highly recommend.

Another easy action is to travel with a reusable water bottle . In some countries you'll be able to drink tap water and can directly fill up your water bottle, avoiding having to buy bottles of water.

Bring a tote bag to take with you whenever you go shopping so that you don’t have to take a plastic bag. Or if you don’t have another bag, get a plastic bag one time and keep on reusing it.

Our coastlines are being ruined by plastic, so try to avoid using and buying it wherever you can.

This minimalist packing list should help you to pack sustainably the next time you travel.

Choose green accommodation

According to research carried out by Booking.com, 78% of travellers say they intend to stay in a more sustainable property in the coming ye a r – yet 29% don’t know how to find sustainable travel options.

With some accommodations, it’s clear to see that they’re operating in an eco-friendly way. They may have solar panels, reuse their water, employ local people and buy from the local community. With others, it may not be as obvious, or it could just be greenwashing.

Spend some time looking at the accommodation's website, and you could even message them if you have any questions about their sustainable practices.

Booking.com have also made it easier to find sustainable accommodation by introducing its ‘Travel Sustainable’ badge. It’s an independently validated recognition program that now appears as a small icon on sustainable places to stay. They do all the work for you so it’s easier to make green decisions.

Booking is offering 2% of Cashback to backpackers who create a profile on Worldpackers . Subscribing to Worldpackers is free, and you only need to subscribe to a plan when you decide to have your first experience through the platform. If you choose the Pack Plan, you will guarantee 4% of Cashback on Booking.com , in addition to other advantages.

*The Cashback benefit is limited to $200 per booking, and you must log in to your Booking.com account to gain access to Cashback.

Choose sustainable modes of transportation

green rail travel

This is often the first swap that people make to travel more sustainably. Instead of taking flights, which produce a lot of CO2, try to take public transport.

Sometimes taking a flight doesn’t even work out that much quicker, and it’s normally a lot more expensive. By the time you account for the time it takes to get to the airport and the wait time, it can sometimes take just as long as taking a bus or a train.

You can also decide to visit countries that are in the same area to avoid taking flights. For example, you could travel all the way from the USA to Argentina without having to take a flight. There are buses, boats and trains that can take you across the borders. Same with Europe and Southeast Asia. 

Again, this is also a much cheaper way to travel than flying to the other side of the world to visit your next country.

Eat, stay, and shop locally

Make the conscious decision to stay in local homestays, eat at local restaurants and buy from shops that are run by people in the community.

Sometimes it might be easier to eat at a chain restaurant or stay at a well-known hotel, but this often means that the local economy isn’t benefiting from your money as much. Instead, it’s making rich people richer.

It’s better for the local economy, but it is also likely to be better for you. If you’re visiting a foreign country, it’s likely that you want to immerse yourself in the local culture as much as possible. Staying, eating, and buying locally is often the best way to do this. Plus, the local restaurants are more often than not the best places to eat!

If you’re a solo traveler, check out these 12 tips for responsible travel .

Give back by volunteering

Green travel isn’t just about reducing things, it can also be about giving back and leaving a positive impact on the communities that you’re visiting.

One way to do this is by volunteering . You can contribute your skills and donate your time to people that will benefit from it. 

Volunteering also allows you to spend more time in a place, immersing yourself and really getting to know the culture. There are so many benefits of this, one of them being that you become a better-educated individual who will also be able to teach others about different cultures and ways of living.

Here’s how you can be an environmental volunteer .

How to find volunteering opportunities?

green rail travel

Worldpackers is a fantastic place to find volunteering opportunities that have a positive environmental and social impact. You can use their filters to find exactly what kind of sustainable volunteering you’re looking for .

You can filter by ‘eco programs’ which will show you places where you can learn permaculture, farming, or contribute to an ecovillage. 

If people are more your thing, use the 'social impact' filter. This will show you volunteer opportunities in NGOs, schools, and social projects.

Here are some examples of sustainable volunteering opportunities to spark your imagination:

  • Teach languages in Uganda
  • Work with kids to help them understand animal care in Cape Verde
  • Lend a helping hand on a farm in Brazil
  • Contribute your handyman skills in the US
  • Help this animal shelter in Tenerife

Check out plenty more environmental volunteer opportunities on Worldpackers.

The first step of green travel is being aware of what it is and why we should be trying to travel more sustainably . The second step is changing our mindsets and consciously making decisions that have less of an impact on the environment.

Traveling isn’t going to slow down anytime soon, so we need to make sure we find a way to do it in a way that isn’t going to destroy our planet . And that needs to start right now!

Want to learn more about planning your trip? By subscribing to the WP pack pla n you have unlimited access to +120 courses at Worldpackers Academy, the travel school made by travelers!

Join the community!

Create a free Worldpackers account to discover volunteer experiences perfect for you and get access to exclusive travel discounts!

Kate Woodley

Maskedtravelsx

Kate is a Management Consultant (and now writer) who decided to take a 2 year career break and travel the world. She shares her travels around the world and shows people the fun of solo travelling!

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green rail travel

Apr 20, 2023

green rail travel

May 04, 2023

We all need to think twice about how we live and how we survive and how we travel, we are all responsible during our vacations in any country, therefore we support every sustainable travel available. Travel green in Morocco with https://moroccogreentours.com/

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green rail travel

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The Most—and Least—Ecofriendly Ways to Travel

What type of transportation should you take if you want to leave the smallest carbon footprint the answer is not that simple..

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The Most—and Least—Ecofriendly Ways to Travel

Being a greener traveler isn’t as simple as swapping one mode of transport for another.

Photo by misign/Shutterstock

The flight shame movement has taken off on the basis that flying is terrible for the environment. But for those who want to do better by planet Earth and reduce their climate change–inducing carbon footprint, simply reducing their reliance on air travel will only address one small slice of the problem.

In the United States, the overall transportation sector is the biggest producer of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) . In 2017 (the most recent year for which data is currently available), transportation accounted for 29 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, followed by electricity at 28 percent, and industry at 22 percent.

Within the transportation sector, road vehicles are actually the biggest culprit, accounting for a whopping 82 percent of those emissions, with aircraft accounting for 9 percent, and rail for 2 percent (ships, boats, and other forms of transportation account for 7 percent combined), according to the EPA.

It’s a similar story on the global front. In the European Union, road transport accounted for 72 percent of transportation-related CO 2 emissions in 2016, according to a report released by the European Parliament this year. The next largest contributor was water transport (boats and ships), at 13.6 percent, followed by air travel at 13.4 percent. Rail only contributed 0.5 percent.

When in doubt, take a train

So, why does air travel get such a bad rap? Well, that’s because when you look at the emissions attributable to an individual passenger traveling by car versus rail versus air, air travel does pretty miserably. For instance, according to the site EcoPassenger , which calculates per-passenger carbon emissions between destinations in Europe, for a person traveling from London to Paris during a popular travel time (so when trains and planes are likely to be more full and thus more efficient), the CO 2 output would be 122 kilograms if that person flew, versus 48 kilograms if he or she drove or 15 kilograms by train.

And if you’re wondering where cruise ships fall into the lineup, they don’t have a strong track record either. The International Council on Clean Transportation recently concluded that even the most efficient cruise ships emit between three and four times more CO 2 per passenger, per kilometer than an airplane.

Rail travel, however, is consistently one of the lowest emitters. It’s not surprising that the flygskam or “flight shame” movement inspired by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has put the emphasis on converting air travel to much less impactful rail journeys.

National rail operator Amtrak reports that one of its electric trains emits .074 kilograms of greenhouse gases (CO 2 ) per passenger mile, compared with .227 kilograms of greenhouse gases per passenger mile for short-haul flights (flights less than 300 miles), and .137 kilograms of greenhouse gases per passenger mile for longer flights (flights between 300 and 2,300 miles). That translates into 70 percent fewer emissions for a rail journey when compared to a short-haul flight and about half the emissions for a rail journey when compared to a long-haul flight.

In short, if you opt to take a train versus a plane, your carbon output for that journey will likely be quite a bit lower. But that’s definitely not as easily done in the United States, which as the fourth largest country in the world has huge expanses to cross, and where the rail system is notoriously behind in sophistication and scope compared to its international counterparts, including the high-speed rail networks of Europe.

The environmental cost of driving

So, what if you opt to drive instead of fly? Well, that’s where the issue becomes more complicated. For one, depending on the distance and the passenger load, driving may not result in a considerably lower emissions output. A recent BBC article citing U.K. government energy data noted that CO 2 emissions per passenger, per kilometer traveled were .171 kilograms for a passenger car with one person in it, versus .102 kilograms for a long-haul flight, and .133 kilograms for a shorter-haul domestic flight within the United Kingdom.

Sure enough, the more people in the road-based vehicle, the lower the per-passenger emissions, with CO 2 emissions per passenger, per kilometer traveled being .043 for a bus, and .041 for each person in a car with four people traveling in it (versus only one, cited above). The lowest emitter (once again) was high-speed rail, at .006 kilograms, according to the U.K. government data.

Additionally, if you opt out of a flight and choose to drive instead, you are joining the masses on the road to be part of what is in fact the biggest overall contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. A lot more people drive in this world than fly. The aviation industry accounts for about 2 percent of global carbon emissions, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. So that means that if everyone were to stop flying, just 2 percent of the problem would be solved.

Focus on greener vehicles

While some people might be craving a simple, impactful solution to reducing their travel carbon footprint—and sure, making a statement by not flying, for instance, is certainly significant—the reality is that for those who want to make a lasting and longer-term difference, a more thoughtful approach to transportation decisions will be needed.

According to David Reichmuth, Ph.D., a senior engineer with the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Clean Vehicles Program, for travelers looking to reduce their impact, they should be thinking about several factors.

“There’s a lot we can do to make [transportation] cleaner and have fewer emissions. So, for passenger vehicles, having both more efficient gasoline vehicles but then also switching entirely from petroleum to electricity allows for reducing both tailpipe emissions and climate-changing emissions,” said Reichmuth.

Reichmuth added that concerned travelers should be thinking about greener vehicles, whether that is their own cars (which he argues is where the biggest impact could be made within a given household) or by being more informed about how efficient their aircraft, bus, or train is. Even within rail travel, for instance, there is a wide range of emissions output depending on the types of trains—diesel trains are typically more polluting than electric trains, and some electric trains are less efficient than others. He also said travelers should think about avoiding vehicle use when possible by walking or biking and should consider taking greater advantage of public transit opportunities and carpooling.

One way to be more informed about each mode of travel is to calculate and compare the carbon emissions output of a given trip. Thankfully, there are numerous, free, online calculators that help travelers do this now. The International Civil Aviation Organization, which is part of the United Nations, has a version for air travel that is intended for use in buying carbon offsets. The site offCents , meanwhile, allows users to calculate emissions for their rail, car, or airplane travel, with the aim of recommending corresponding offset programs, which users can contribute toward to offset their journeys.

Flex those influence muscles

Ultimately, the biggest factors impacting emissions related to travel are decisions that are made at the policy level—regulations that dictate what kind of emissions standards manufacturers must abide by.

Travelers who want to see their journey truly become greener should speak up. The airline industry is beginning to take notice of growing concerns about climate change and has begun to make some serious strides when it comes to scaling back on emissions, as well as offsetting them (they are also being required to do so by national and international regulations that have been put into place).

“To the extent that you can, take an active role in advocating for these policy actions. That can be at the local level,” said Reichmuth, noting that many municipalities have their own individual climate goals and action plans that citizens can get involved in. At the state and federal level, people can also advocate for and support clean vehicle policies that could ultimately result in travelers having a larger, and ideally greener, range of vehicles and modes of transportation to choose from.

>> Next: These Are the World’s Most Environmentally Friendly Countries

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  • ErasmusJobs
  • Green Erasmus

Illustration of woman leaving with luggage

The round trip to/from your Erasmus destination is a fundamental part of your mobility experience. The way you do it though, makes a difference. As the most extensive mobility scheme in the world, the Erasmus programme moves thousands of students who inevitably contribute significant carbon emissions. Emissions from aviation in particular have been rising rapidly over the past two decades. Technical solutions, such as transitioning to sustainable aviation fuels are still far from being mainstream, and still do not eliminate emissions entirely.

Therefore, we need to consider changes in behaviour when it comes to travel choices. Before starting your Erasmus+ exchange, consider measuring the carbon footprint of different transport options and check how your journey affects the climate.

Actions you can take

  • Calculate your journey’s carbon footprint.
  • Take a train or a bus to reach your Erasmus mobility destination, as low-carbon alternatives to short-haul flights. By doing so, the Erasmus+ programme foresees an extra 50 euros and up to 4 days of additional individual support for your journey. Ask your international/mobility office for more information about this funding opportunity. Meanwhile, have a look at the tips and tricks for green travel written by Movetia (Swiss National Agency for Exchange and Mobility) and by the Green Office of Utrecht University , and follow the steps suggested by Erasmus by Train .
  • Rail and coach connections vary considerably across Europe, therefore, for some destinations it may not be feasible to take a train, bus or coach.  If you do need to fly, opt for airlines with more efficient fleets and routes with fewer stopovers. Direct flights are less polluting. When feasible, fly to places close to your final destination and switch to alternative transport modes for the final stage of your journey.
  • Travel by train and/or bus requires a mental shift (welcome to the world of slow travel!) as it can take one or few more days to reach your destination. If you are looking for a place to stay ‘en route’, use an eco-friendly booking site for accommodation or opt for homestays. Fancy a hostel experience? Have a look at Hostelling International , a worldwide network of not-for-profit Youth Hostel Associations advocating sustainable travel.
  • Travel prepared! A lot of disposable plastics are avoidable. To reduce plastic waste generated while travelling, make sure you have a reusable kit: a water bottle and a cup for hot drinks, a reusable shopping bag, reusable cutlery, toiletries in refillable bottles and/or soap bar. Become a Traveler Against Plastic !
  • Find out about students' public transport cards or bike rental systems to move green once you reach your destination. You might need that passport photo in the drawer of your bedside table…

Find out more

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The Little Green Train Of Sardinia

  • December 19, 2016

Scott McGregor

  • No Comments

AN UN-TOUCHED AND UN-DISCOVERED WORLD

Characterised by long, winding tracks nestled in breathtaking landscapes, the narrow-gauge Sardinian Railways have always attracted the attention of travellers. Transporting you far from glamorous resorts and popular tourist attractions is the Trenino Verde, the “Little Green Train.” The appropriate name given to this unique railway is a tribute to the route it takes through some of the greenest and most lush areas of the island. The railway allows you to discover the more suggestive and traditional face of the land; an excellent way to experience hidden treasures you otherwise wouldn’t stumble across in the more frequented areas of the island.

The Trenino Verde takes tourists to a remote world, little changed in over 100 years. Navigating through the heart of the island, the train meanders past authentic, unchanged scenes, showcasing staggeringly beautiful views. It’s steady speed is perfect for the relaxed tourist; roaming the island at a pace that allows you to fully enjoy the ancient charms and eclectic nature of your surroundings.

A FIRERY JOURNEY

This Little Green Train was once pulled along by heaving steam locomotives, but switched to diesel after multiple fire-incidents, in which the lush countryside would be set alight. Now, diesel engines do a stunning job of navigating the train along this unique railway, in the absence of fire.

THE MANDAS-ARBATAX LINE; SARDINIAS MOST SPECTACULAR LINE-

Built at the end of the 1800’s, the Mandas-Arbatax line runs through the hilly regions of Ogliastra and Barbagia, taking in stunning panoramas all the way. This journey, a roller-coaster ride through a jumble of mountains and meadows, travels past electric-blue ocean views, navigates through long tunnels and adventures over audacious iron bridges.

Climbing steep mountains with great gusto, the Little Green Train boasts an engineering marvel. It makes short work of the huge massif of Gennargentu, the highest point in Sardinia. And at 870m above sea level, the striking views at the peak of the mountain unquestionably add to this railways magnificence. Lake Flumendosa sits beneath the mountain range, reflecting its dramatic peaks as the Trenino Verde makes its descent, traveling past historic local towns that warmly welcome the diesel-hauled train. Great places to stop and have a bite of lunch and a coffee.

Approaching the coast views of the dazzling sea and rugged coast are displayed, before the train plunges down the jagged mountains to Arbatax, the railway station by the ocean.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

A VISIT TO THE WORKSHOP

The nerve centre of any railway is its workshop, and the Trenino Verde is blessed with a large and dedicated industrial era complex in Cagliari. Here, the little trains are restored and maintained with great care and love. The network of lines that make up the Trenino Verde were once much more extensive, as were the workshops to support them. These days they’re a living museum, where all manner of disused rolling stock is stored together with hives of activity in which amazing restorations are carried out.

Lots of work is being done to keep vintage trains operating and a few steam locomotives are kept in working order for special outings. On a recent visit I was especially impressed with the restoration of some of the beautiful timber bodied, teak-wood carriages used in the early part of the 20 th century. Without the efforts of the engineers and artisans inside these atmospheric workshops our little trains would not be out and about hauling us in style through the wilds of this wonderful captivating island.

Watch our video, a little taste of Sardinia and its Railways, and my visit to the workshop!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtvCTRYbLfQ

The Islands Of The Mediterranean tour, departing in 2017, features the railways of Sardinia, Corsica and Sicily in a unique adventure.

Scott McGregor

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A Rail Travel Romantic

Train traveller, well known TV personality and travel company owner, Scott McGregor, has travelled on some of the world’s most inspiring  railway tours  and led the most exclusive group adventures to numerous exotic destinations over the years.

“Rustic, character-filled, zig-zagging railways of Burma, opulent hotels on wheels in India South Africa and Sri Lanka, steam-hauled heritage trains in some of the most staggeringly scenic parts of the world, dinky little rail-cars in outback Queensland, bullet trains in Japan, cliff-hugging lines in Switzerland and Norway—if it travels on a rail track, I’m there!”, exclaims self-confessed train travel tragic, Scott McGregor. “In my mind, travelling by rail is still the most wonderful way to immerse yourself in the country you’re visiting.  It’s romantic, relaxing and about as much fun as you can have!”.

Aa a child of the last days of steam trains in the busy junction town of Orange, NSW; trains heading in all directions offering temptations and dreams of faraway places, left an indelible impression on a young, inquisitive boy and Scott has been riding the rails in one form or another ever since. While Scott’s acting career of 30 years kept him busy starring in numerous TV shows and stage plays and then as an on-air presenter on programs such as Better Homes and Gardens, Room for Improvement and various pay-TV programs, his passion for  railway tours  was ever-present. “Presenting a series of Railway Adventure travel programs for Channel 7 was a career highlight”, he says with as much enthusiasm now as he had then.

In 2012 Scott decided to combine three of his passions; travel, trains and presenting, and launched Railway Adventures.  Not only does he get to expand his own horizons and indulge his love of train travel, he gets to use his extensive hosting experience and love of people to lead other like-minded travellers on  escorted train tours  around the world. Since then, Railway Adventures has mounted more than 50 tours from Sweden to Sri Lanka, Tasmania to Transylvania, Britain to Burma and Venice to Vietnam, thrilling over 1,000 travellers. New tours are launched regularly, inspired by new trains, new routes and the growing interest in taking a train to some of the world’s most fascinating places.  But you don’t have to be a train ‘nut’ to enjoy a Railway Adventures tour – there’s something for everyone!

Just one example of how Scott finds inspiration for a tour can be found in Outback Queensland. “There you find some of Australia’s most eccentric and appealing trains and together with a mail-plane flight over the Gulf and some interesting local coach and boat trips you have the essence of a quintessential Aussie outback adventure. The sleeper train,  The Spirit of the Outback,  the  Savannahlander  and the  Gulflander  (which has been running on the same timetable for more than 125 years!) are all iconic trains that traverse various parts of the wild Outback, Savannah and tropical rainforest landscapes of the vast state of Queensland.  Along with some other special treats not available to the ordinary traveller, Railway Adventures passengers get to do it all!.

One of his favourite journey’s is by private train in Sri Lanka. For 2 weeks every year Scott charters the Viceroy Special heritage train to tour the island on a gentle rail cruise with a lucky group of travellers. Staying in luxury resorts and hotels along the way, his special train travels to almost every corner of the scenic island. “Having a private train at your disposal for an adventure around this magic island is a rare treat and a great way to immerse yourself in the scenery and culture of the country.”, he enthuses.  “Our Vietnam tour makes use of private carriages attached to regular trains to explore that great country in comfort and in South Africa we use a variety of trains including the luxurious Rovos Rail and the Royal Livingstone steam train to move from one incredible adventure to another”.

Apart from the obvious joy of seeing a country by train, travelling in a small group of like-minded travellers with a dedicated, experienced tour leader and knowledgeable, English-speaking local guides is what really sets Railway Adventures apart. “The camaraderie that comes from both shared purpose and shared experiences on tour is an important aspect of the journey” Scott adds.  “We’ve seen many people become life-long friends from the time they shared together along the line. The best feeling in the world is when I welcome these same people on repeat journeys”.

Along with popular destinations like Switzerland, Scandinavia, Outback Queensland and Sri Lanka, a new breed of more unusual destinations has gained great interest. Java, Cuba, Southern Africa, India and the New England region of NSW are just some of the newer adventures on offer. As for Scott’s next escape, it’s most likely some quality time at Ruwenzori Retreat, his own personal train on the Great Dividing Range near Mudgee, Central NSW. Built from a collection of vintage railway carriages it’s now a boutique tourist accommodation, comprising exclusive Orient Express style comfort for up to 13 guests. “When the travels are done, coming back to my own train in the beautiful Mudgee mountains is the most restorative and magical time for this committed rail romantic”, Scott says.

INSIDER

My family tried traveling by train instead of car, and I get the hype. Here are 6 ways rail travel is better.

Posted: May 12, 2023 | Last updated: July 12, 2023

<ul class="summary-list"> <li>After taking road trips throughout the US, I tried <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-and-worst-parts-first-amtrak-trip-coast-starlight-2022-9">traveling by Amtrak train</a> instead. </li> <li>My experiences on the rails have been comfortable and hassle-free, albeit not the most efficient.</li> <li>Trains aren't the answer for every trip, but I've begun to incorporate them into more of my travels.</li> </ul><p>Ahead of my family vacation to California, I dreamed of <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-places-to-visit-california-2019-3">cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway</a>. There was just one problem: My son suffered from terrible car sickness. </p><p>To avoid scrubbing vomit out of a rental car's upholstery, I booked tickets on the <a href="https://www.amtrak.com/coast-starlight-train">Amtrak Coast Starlight</a> from Oakland to Santa Barbara.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.insider.com/amtrak-coast-starlight-review-california-train-ride-photos-2022-10">smooth, nine-hour journey</a> offered all of the magnificent ocean views I would've wanted to see on the road trip, with none of the upset stomachs.</p><p>Since that trip, my son has found ways to manage his car sickness, and we've successfully traveled to 44 states by car. But there's a host of reasons my family is still choosing to <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-parts-about-riding-amtrak-trains-with-family-vacation-northeast-2023-2">return to rail travel</a>.</p><div class="read-original">Read the original article on <a href="https://www.insider.com/reasons-train-travel-better-than-road-trips-amtrak">Insider</a></div>

  • After taking road trips throughout the US, I tried traveling by Amtrak train instead. 
  • My experiences on the rails have been comfortable and hassle-free, albeit not the most efficient.
  • Trains aren't the answer for every trip, but I've begun to incorporate them into more of my travels.

Ahead of my family vacation to California, I dreamed of cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway . There was just one problem: My son suffered from terrible car sickness. 

To avoid scrubbing vomit out of a rental car's upholstery, I booked tickets on the Amtrak Coast Starlight from Oakland to Santa Barbara.

The smooth, nine-hour journey offered all of the magnificent ocean views I would've wanted to see on the road trip, with none of the upset stomachs.

Since that trip, my son has found ways to manage his car sickness, and we've successfully traveled to 44 states by car. But there's a host of reasons my family is still choosing to return to rail travel .

<p>When it comes to <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-taking-beautiful-train-ride-is-like-scotrail-west-highland-line">spectacular views</a>, there's a lot to see from train windows. </p><p>Though not all of Amtrak's routes pass idyllic settings, some journey through the US' most beautiful landscapes. I've enjoyed gazing at vineyards, mountains, harbor seals, and more on my rail travels. </p><p>Many Amtrak trains, including the Coast Starlight, have observation cars with giant picture windows designed with sightseeing in mind.</p><p>As someone who's generally the designated driver on <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-road-trips-in-the-world-2018-7">road trips</a>, I savor the ability to sit back and take in the stunning scenery without the fear of taking my eyes off the road for too long.</p>

Many Amtrak trains offer scenic views of some of the country's most beautiful locales.

When it comes to spectacular views , there's a lot to see from train windows. 

Though not all of Amtrak's routes pass idyllic settings, some journey through the US' most beautiful landscapes. I've enjoyed gazing at vineyards, mountains, harbor seals, and more on my rail travels. 

Many Amtrak trains, including the Coast Starlight, have observation cars with giant picture windows designed with sightseeing in mind.

As someone who's generally the designated driver on road trips , I savor the ability to sit back and take in the stunning scenery without the fear of taking my eyes off the road for too long.

<p>Though trains aren't the most glamorous way to travel, I loved how easy the whole journey was and am eager to book more rail-based trips in the future. </p><p>The ability to accomplish work and other tasks, especially ones that I can't do while driving or navigating airports, is appealing, as is the ability to sit back and unwind while someone else does the steering.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-parts-of-long-train-rides-from-traveler-2021-9">benefits of train travel</a> became especially evident as we drove to Baltimore on the final leg of our trip. During a heavy rainstorm, I got stuck in a traffic jam while navigating unfamiliar roads.</p><p>At that moment, I longed instead to be sitting back in my train seat, effortlessly cruising to my next destination.</p>

Some trains also stop in underrated destinations I wouldn't have otherwise visited.

Amtrak offers picturesque long-haul journeys through the Rockies , the American Southwest, and beyond.

The prospect of gazing at snowcapped mountains and soaring red-rock formations is exciting, but these journeys also offer a compelling opportunity to stop and explore less-touted areas along the way — ones that I probably wouldn't go out of my way to visit otherwise.

Though some of the highlights from my road trips have been stumbling upon hidden gems in locales often labeled as flyover states (like spots in the US' heartland), driving through the Midwest's flatlands can feel like a bit of a slog.

However, I find stretches of farmland infinitely more charming when I view them out of a train window instead of a car dashboard.

<p>Between gas prices and rental-car charges, road trips can be expensive ventures.</p><p>When it comes to Amtrak trains, you can expect to <a href="https://www.insider.com/amtrak-upgrade-coach-to-private-room-roomette-worth-it-2023-4">pay a premium for a private room in a sleeping car</a> or a coveted last-minute ticket. However, you can usually find reasonably priced tickets with some advance planning.</p><p>On a trip my family recently took from New York to Pennsylvania, all three of our tickets for the Amtrak <a href="https://www.amtrak.com/keystone-service-train" rel="nofollow noopener">Keystone Service</a> cost me a total of $47.50 — an absolute steal considering our trip fell during a peak travel period.</p><p>In many major cities, I probably would've <a href="https://www.insider.com/road-trip-money-saving-hacks-2018-11">paid the same amount</a> for a few hours of parking. </p>

Depending on the itinerary and season, traveling by train can be more affordable than driving.

Between gas prices and rental-car charges, road trips can be expensive ventures.

When it comes to Amtrak trains, you can expect to pay a premium for a private room in a sleeping car or a coveted last-minute ticket. However, you can usually find reasonably priced tickets with some advance planning.

On a trip my family recently took from New York to Pennsylvania, all three of our tickets for the Amtrak Keystone Service cost me a total of $47.50 — an absolute steal considering our trip fell during a peak travel period.

In many major cities, I probably would've paid the same amount for a few hours of parking. 

<ul class="summary-list"> <li>Amtrak suspended some cross-country routes Tuesday due to an impending <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/white-house-railroad-worker-strike-democrats-midterms-2022-9">rail worker strike</a>.</li> <li>Some trains departing from Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Antonio were canceled. </li> <li>State routes could also be affected if a resolution is not reached, a spokesperson told Insider.</li> </ul><p>Amtrak suspended some of its most storied and picturesque routes on Tuesday in preparation for an impending <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/white-house-railroad-worker-strike-democrats-midterms-2022-9">rail worker strike</a> that could further upend supply chains and damage the US economy. </p><p>Tuesday departures for the Southwest Chief, Empire Builder, California Zephyr, and a portion of the Texas Eagle routes have all been pre-emptively canceled in order to avoid passenger disruptions, an Amtrak spokesperson told Insider. </p><p>If freight rail carriers do not reach a resolution with two major worker unions, shorter state-supported routes could also be canceled this week, the spokesperson added. </p><p>While Amtrak itself is not involved in the union negotiations, its trains travel on 21,000 miles of track throughout the Midwest and western US — nearly all of which is owned, maintained, and controlled by freight railroads. As a result, a freight rail worker strike would "significantly impact intercity passenger rail service," Amtrak said.</p><p>Most travel within Amtrak's owned-and-operated Northeast Corridor between Boston, New York, and Washington would not be affected by the potential strike, as they do not operate on freight rail tracks. The higher-speed Acela line will operate a full schedule and only a small number of Northeast Regional departures would be impacted by any strike, Amtrak said. </p><p>Passengers whose trips are affected by these changes will be able to change their reservation to another travel date, waiving any difference in fare for departures through Oct. 31, or receive a full refund without cancelation fees.  </p><p>Here's the full list of train departures impacted by Tuesday's cancelations: </p><div class="read-original">Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/list-amtrak-cancels-trains-rail-worker-strike-chicago-california-texas-2022-9">Business Insider</a></div>

I feel safer traveling by train than by car, especially in poor weather conditions.

It gives me peace of mind to know that taking a train is statistically safer than driving a car . Plus, Amtrak has a lot of safety standards in place .

Though I feel confident in my driving abilities, I prefer not to be behind the wheel in certain situations, like when I have to navigate Manhattan streets or battle icy road conditions.

Trains are usually less impacted by weather, making them a solid transportation option in less-than-ideal conditions.

<p>It's no surprise that traveling can make you feel a bit cramped, especially if you're constricted to a car seat for a long drive.</p><p>Regardless of how I travel, I'm always very eager to reach my destination and stretch my legs. In my experience, I've found that even the most bare-bones Amtrak trains <a href="https://www.insider.com/why-train-travel-better-for-plus-size-people-than-flying">offer wider seats</a> than I've seen in most cars and a reasonable amount of legroom.</p><p>The trains' observation and <a href="https://www.insider.com/amtrak-dining-car-surprising-things-from-frequent-traveler-2022-12">dining cars</a> are a real treat for my family since they allow us to enjoy peaceful moments, play a rousing game, or simply take advance of the freedom that comes with not being strapped in one place.</p>

Amtrak's seats feel wider and more comfortable than the ones in most cars.

It's no surprise that traveling can make you feel a bit cramped, especially if you're constricted to a car seat for a long drive.

Regardless of how I travel, I'm always very eager to reach my destination and stretch my legs. In my experience, I've found that even the most bare-bones Amtrak trains offer wider seats than I've seen in most cars and a reasonable amount of legroom.

The trains' observation and dining cars are a real treat for my family since they allow us to enjoy peaceful moments, play a rousing game, or simply take advance of the freedom that comes with not being strapped in one place.

<p>Train travel isn't always the fastest way to reach my destination, but I've found that it's the mode of transportation that <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-and-worst-parts-long-train-ride-35-hours-photos-2021-10">gives me the most time to be productive</a>.</p><p>As someone who works remotely, trains are the perfect place to multitask and catch up on my to-do list, something I can't accomplish as easily in cars.</p><p>I obviously can't use my computer while driving, and attempting to do so in the passenger seat makes me queasy. However, traveling by train gives me an easy way to knock out work, help my son with his homework, read a book, or take a nap.</p>

Rail journeys give me time and space to work, spend time with family, and rest.

Train travel isn't always the fastest way to reach my destination, but I've found that it's the mode of transportation that gives me the most time to be productive .

As someone who works remotely, trains are the perfect place to multitask and catch up on my to-do list, something I can't accomplish as easily in cars.

I obviously can't use my computer while driving, and attempting to do so in the passenger seat makes me queasy. However, traveling by train gives me an easy way to knock out work, help my son with his homework, read a book, or take a nap.

<p>Amtrak trains have provided a lot of benefits for my family, but like any mode of transportation, they come with their own set of downsides. Trains, especially long-haul ones, are known to be plagued with delays. So you do have to pack some patience and be flexible. </p><p>The routes Amtrak offers can also be limiting and inconvenient, with the journey between some destinations requiring multiple train changes that take you hundreds of miles and many hours out of the way.</p><p>I've decided that they're a great way for my family to travel in addition to road trips, but not in place of them.</p><p>I adore the <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-and-worst-parts-about-first-long-distance-van-trip">spontaneity and impulsiveness that comes with traveling by car</a> and wouldn't trade the experience of pulling off the road to explore a quirky roadside attraction or stop for fresh baked goods at a local vendor's stand. </p><p>I'm already plotting future trips and can't wait to see what's ahead on the rails and on the road.</p>

Trains aren't the right option for every trip, but I look forward to incorporating more of them in my future travels.

Amtrak trains have provided a lot of benefits for my family, but like any mode of transportation, they come with their own set of downsides. Trains, especially long-haul ones, are known to be plagued with delays. So you do have to pack some patience and be flexible. 

The routes Amtrak offers can also be limiting and inconvenient, with the journey between some destinations requiring multiple train changes that take you hundreds of miles and many hours out of the way.

I've decided that they're a great way for my family to travel in addition to road trips, but not in place of them.

I adore the spontaneity and impulsiveness that comes with traveling by car  and wouldn't trade the experience of pulling off the road to explore a quirky roadside attraction or stop for fresh baked goods at a local vendor's stand. 

I'm already plotting future trips and can't wait to see what's ahead on the rails and on the road.

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How green is your next vacation? Here's how to tell

Travel consumes precious natural resources, pollutes the environment and punches a hole in the ozone layer. You probably already know that most vacations are not green. But does the travel industry know?

A 2023 study by Booking.com found that 74% of travelers believe people need to "act now" to make more sustainable choices to save the planet for future generations. That's up from 66% the year before. Yet hotels continue to act as if scrapping single-use soaps and sourcing their restaurant food locally will reverse climate change. 

And airlines are making often outrageous claims that they're "sustainable" even as travelers feel the effects of climate change .

Check out   Elliott Confidential , the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone!

It has gone too far, experts say.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

"It can’t just be an impressive-sounding goal on a reusable water bottle," said Kathleen Hetrick, a sustainability engineer at the design firm Buro Happold and contributor to the book "The Regenerative Materials Movement." "There needs to be intention – and, of course, measurable action behind it."

That's a nice way of saying: "Enough is enough. No more greenwashing."

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Air travel may be about to get better. Here's what it means for your next flight.

What is 'greenwashing'?

Greenwashing, or making exaggerated claims about your sustainability to attract visitors, is everywhere.

Last fall, Austrian Airlines lost a case brought against it by a consumer organization that accused the carrier of advertising carbon-neutral flights that used 100% sustainable aviation fuel. A lower court found the advertisements to be misleading.

In December, the U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority ruled that Air France, Lufthansa and Etihad had published ads that promised passengers would "fly more sustainably" and that they were "committed to protecting the environment." Regulators said the ads were false and misleading – and pointed out that air travel produces high levels of carbon dioxide and non-CO 2 emissions.

Closer to home, one of the biggest greenwashing cases in recent years happened at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego County, a resort that had won numerous environmental awards. Activists found that the resort was trapping and killing wildlife , including skunks and possums.

And here's the thing: It's really hard to tell if an airline or hotel is greenwashing. It's not as if there are environmental cops patrolling a resort. Your resort could make outrageously false claims about how it loves the environment, and you'd be none the wiser.

Or would you?

How can you tell if a travel business really cares about the environment?

Look, let's be honest – there's no such thing as a "green" vacation. You'll leave a carbon footprint, no matter what. But your trip can be green-ish. Here are a few questions to ask:

  • Is it a B Corp? B Corps are businesses that meet a strict set of standards by the nonprofit B Lab . They include requirements for governance, workers, customers, community and the environment. You can search the directory of these forward-looking companies online. You'll see some fairly well-known brands, like Intrepid Travel . But you won't find the names of any major airlines, car rental companies or hotel chains – at least not yet.
  • Does the company have any other environmental certifications? Third-party certifications from Green Key, LEED and WELL can be signs that a travel company means business about the environment. Transportation companies may also offer verified offsets from organizations like Terrapass or the Gold Standard Foundation . These certifications aren't a guarantee the company is green, but it's a good start.
  • What's the company saying to everyone? If the company claims to be green, don't just take its word for it. Listen to what it says. If you see nothing but bikini models lounging around a pool on its Instagram channel or ads for online discounts on its site, perhaps it's a shade of fake green. "A company's social media strategy is generally a reflection of its current ethos and goals," said Julia Carter, founder of Craft Travel . If you see posts about sustainability and conservation, it can be a positive sign.
  • How deep is its commitment to the environment? Look for reliable reports on sustainability from a travel company. For example, The Travel Corp. publishes an annual impact report that charts its progress against 11 sustainability goals developed by the United Nations. Many cruise lines also publish detailed reports that allow you to check their commitment to the environment against several objective standards. For instance, Carnival Corp. shows which goals it has completed and which are still in the works.

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Looking for a green vacation? Be skeptical

Allow me to go off-script for a minute. Most of the environmental claims made by the travel industry are nonsense. The only green it cares about is the color of your cash. I, on the other hand, care a lot about the environment. (That's why I recycled that line from a previous story.)

Seriously, though, as someone who is literally always traveling, I find there are two consistent truths: First, no matter what the travel industry claims, it's always profits over planet. In other words, if it's a choice between doing something that will help the environment versus earning money, the money wins. 

Second, travelers lie about what they want. They tell pollsters that they want to make a difference and that they care deeply about the environment. And then they turn around and book the cheapest hotel room they can find. (Is it LEED-certified? Who cares!). They choose the least expensive airline. (Does it use biofuels? It doesn't matter!). 

And that has created an environment where travelers pretend they want a green vacation – and the travel industry pretends to give it to them.

Meantime, if you're thinking of taking a green vacation, you might want to think again. Travel harms the environment no matter how you get there. If you want to be totally green, just stay home.

Elliott's tips on spotting a travel company that's greenwashing

It's difficult to exaggerate, but almost everything in the travel industry has a tinge of fake green to it. Here's how you can spot the biggest offenders and avoid them:

  • Look for sleight of hand : Some companies highlight eco-friendly initiatives that are unrelated to their main environmental impact. For instance, an airline might promote a small recycling program but fail to address its carbon footprint. "It's irrelevant," said travel adviser Kristin Winkaffe, of Winkaffe Global Travel .
  • Beware of a hyper-focus on one program : Greenwashing companies focus on a single initiative but miss the bigger picture, said Justin Smith, owner of The Evolved Traveler , an agency that focuses on sustainable travel. For example, a hotel that touts its commitment to abandon single-use plastics or utensils may be missing an opportunity to create a truly sustainable product by also supporting the local population. "Such practices indicate there is not a full or authentic commitment to sustainability," he said.
  • Watch for vagueness and buzzwords : Be skeptical. Any hotel that calls itself green – or, worse, an "ecolodge" – deserves extra scrutiny. But even so, many of the terms thrown around aren't just buzzy, they're also fuzzy. "Vague, unverifiable claims can be a sign of trouble," said Shannon Guihan, who heads The Travel Corp.'s not-for-profit TreadRight Foundation , an environmental organization focused on supporting nature-based solutions to the climate crisis.

Christopher Elliott  is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded  Elliott Advocacy , a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes  Elliott Confidential , a travel newsletter, and the  Elliott Report , a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can  reach him here  or email him at  [email protected] .

VTA - Green Line Schedule

Monday-friday - old ironsides station, monday-friday - winchester station, saturday - old ironsides station, saturday - winchester station, sunday - old ironsides station, sunday - winchester station.

light-rail Blue Line

Snell Station Elevator A Is Out of Service

light-rail Orange Line

Great Mall Station Elevator #1 Out of Service Until Further Notice

frequent Rapid 568

Routes 66, 68, 70, & 568: Temporary Bus Stop Closure at Monterey & Senter - (3/25/24 - 4/5/24)

frequent 22

Route 22: Temporary Bus Stop Closure at El Camino & Rengstorff (03/01/24-11/01/26)

Route 22: temporary bus stop closure at el camino & palm (2/26/24 - 4/15/24), route 22: temporary bus stop closure at el camino & portage (2/22/24-till further notice), route 22 & 64b: temporary bus stop closure at the alameda & morrison ave (10/2/23 - 1/18/24).

frequent 25

Route 25: Reroute Due to Construction - 1/3/24-12/31/24

Routes 25 & 73: temporary bus stop closure - keyes & senter - (7/17/23 - until further notice).

frequent 26

Route 26: Temporary Bus Stop Closure - Curtner & Lincoln (2/16/24-3/29/24)

We would like to hear about your experience using VTA, such as how and when you ride VTA, how you pay, and how you believe the service can be improved. Take the survey . Enter for a chance to win a $200 Visa Gift card. 

light-rail Green Line

Old Ironsides - Winchester

Service alerts.

Don't see your stop listed? Plan to arrive at the stop or station at least five (5) minutes prior to the bus or train arrival time (all times are approximate). Rapid buses may depart up to five minutes earlier than the time shown, if traffic allows.

  • Weekday Northbound
  • Weekday Southbound
  • Saturday Northbound
  • Saturday Southbound
  • Sunday/Holiday Northbound
  • Sunday/Holiday Southbound

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i bring my bike on the bus/light rail, what are the rules to ride bus and light rail, does vta bus and light rail service operate on holidays, does light rail stop at every station, even if it's not listed on the schedule.

Planned Outage for Some Cornell Lab Services

Several Cornell Lab of Ornithology services will be unavailable beginning March 19 through 6:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern time on March 21 . This is a one-time disruption while we migrate more than 1.6 billion eBird observations and additional project data to new servers. After the move, our websites will have improved reliability, stability, and room to grow. Thank you for your understanding during this outage.

Don’t worry, your data (checklists, media, Bird Academy courses, Merlin life list, etc.) will be safe during the migration and will be unaffected when we come back online.

Unavailable: The following websites and services will be down during this period:

  • eBird.org , including eBird portals, eBird Alerts, the eBird API, eBird Science, and data downloads
  • Macaulay Library
  • Birds of the World

Partially affected: Several Cornell Lab projects will remain up but services that require a login will be unavailable:

  • Bird Academy login and store will be unavailable. Users will be able to access most course materials if they were logged in to the site before the outage. Snap ID quizzes will not function during the outage.
  • NestWatch and Project FeederWatch login and data entry will be unavailable both on the website and the app. Please record your data on paper and enter it after the outage ends.
  • eBird Mobile app : The Explore and My eBird functions will not work during the outage. You can use the app to create checklists and then submit them after the outage ends. Your eBird data will be safe.
  • Merlin Bird ID app : Sound ID will continue to work, as well as Photo ID, Step-by-Step, and Explore, using your recent locations only. You will not be able to save sightings, refresh your life list, update your location, or log in to your account. These functions will return when the outage ends and your data will be safe.

Unaffected: The following sites will continue to function as normal:

  • Cornell Lab of Ornithology institutional website
  • All About Birds
  • Cornell Lab YouTube channel

What Can I Do During the Outage?

Go out birding.

  • If you already have Merlin Bird ID app installed, you can still use it for some purposes. Though you won’t be able to update your location, save sightings, or refresh your life list, the ID functions will still work with your saved locations, and you can still browse species using Explore Birds
  • If you already have the eBird Mobile app installed on your device, you can start eBird Mobile checklists during the downtime and submit them once eBird is back online. Learn how to Enter Sightings with eBird Mobile

Explore Birds Online

  • Read about science, conservation, and birdwatching on All About Birds and in our magazine, Living Bird
  • Watch wild birds live on Cornell Lab Bird Cams
  • Browse our natural history films on the Cornell Lab YouTube channel
  • Watch recorded webinars on everything from Merlin tips and tricks, to feeding birds at home, to conversations with scientists, and more

Stay Connected

  • Watch for status updates on our Facebook and Instagram channels
  • Join us for two days of fun activities on the  @Team_eBird Instagram  account
  • Have some fun by sharing your “life without eBird” on social media. If you’re missing your live eBird access during this outage, share how you’re coping with the hashtag #eBirdLife. We’ll be right there with you!

Join Our Email List

The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. Sign up for email and don’t miss a thing!

Golden-cheeked Warbler by  Bryan Calk/Macaulay Library

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Chairman Green Issues Statement on CBP Suspending Rail Operations in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas

December 18 , 2023.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) released the following statement after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the suspension of rail operations in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas amid an influx of inadmissible aliens:

“Because of Secretary Mayorkas’ failure to secure the border, CBP is halting legitimate trade and the flow of goods across the border right before Christmas. With more and more CBP officers assigned to help process illegal aliens into the interior, there is no way for CBP to keep up with commercial activity. 

 “This is especially concerning as CBP has already closed numerous internal checkpoints and taken Border Patrol agents out of the field in many vulnerable areas of the border to do just that. This crisis is crushing the morale of these dedicated law enforcement professionals and their homeland security mission.

“Even worse, Secretary Mayorkas has clearly encouraged this surge at our borders by refusing to enforce the laws passed by Congress and by removing consequences for illegal activity in favor of catch-and-release policies and other perverse incentives. While this DHS secretary remains willfully ignorant to cartel operations, we know cartels encourage large groups of inadmissible aliens to overwhelm Border Patrol or CBP officers in one area of our border in order to leave entire swathes of it open for these transnational criminal organizations to smuggle criminals and dangerous drugs into the country as they please. It’s long past time for border security, not border management. Homeland Republicans will hold Secretary Mayorkas accountable for this dereliction of duty.”

Permalink: https://markgreen.house.gov/2023/12/chairman-green-issues-statement-on-cbp-suspending-rail-operations-in-eagle-pass-and-el-paso-texas

Office Locations

green rail travel

Washington, DC Office 2446 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-2811

Clarksville Office 128 N. Second St. Suite 104 Clarksville, TN 37040 Phone: (931) 266-4483 Please call for appointments.

Franklin Office 305 Public Square Suite 212 Franklin, TN 37064 Phone: (629) 223-6050 Please call for appointments.

Nashville Office 801 Broadway Suite C 507 Nashville, TN 37203 Phone: (629) 999-4950 Please call for appointments.

IMAGES

  1. Brightline: Green travels bright future

    green rail travel

  2. A slow ride on China's legendary green trains

    green rail travel

  3. Boosting Rail Transportation’s Sustainability Profile

    green rail travel

  4. PHOTOS: Europe's Grass-Lined Green Railways = Good Urban Design

    green rail travel

  5. Going greener- rail transport delivers sustainability

    green rail travel

  6. The Green Future of Rail Travel

    green rail travel

VIDEO

  1. Inoguration of Green Line Metro Rail Kolkata

  2. Green rail vehicle in Lund

  3. Here is the Green Rail replacement bus in Woking Sunday 19 March 2023

COMMENTS

  1. Travel Green

    Travel Green with Amtrak. From 2010 to 2019, we reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, which is equivalent to removing roughly 51,251 passenger vehicles from the road. Through several key initiatives like energy efficiency upgrades, improved train handling, and more efficient locomotives, Amtrak has reduced fuel and energy use year-over-year.

  2. Traveling Green: Trains as Eco-friendly Transportation

    Train travel makes it easy to stay green, using 30 percent less energy per passenger mile than cars and 20 percent less than planes [1]. Rail operators worldwide are focusing on ways to improve the efficiency and sustainability of their trains. Amtrak, the American national rail operator, has made a clear commitment to sustainability over the ...

  3. Riding the Rails to Sustainability

    Riding the Rails to Sustainability. February 28, 2022 By Annika Zawadzki , Felix Reszewski , Mirko Pahl , Henning Schierholz , Dustin Burke , Bruno Vasconcellos, and Maeyce Toppan. Rail is the most sustainable mode of transport. Increasing its share of passengers and freight is critical to achieving net-zero goals.

  4. Green Train Travel

    Our green initiatives. Paper tickets across the National Rail network are being produced in a new way, using a water-based rather than solvent-based system, which will reduce the environmental impact by 87%. Thanks to free water fountains at stations, we are saving the equivalent of 400,000 plastic bottles from landfill every month.

  5. Green Train Travel

    Environmental hopes from green train travel. While it had long been possible to travel by train from North American cities like Vancouver and Calgary to mountain village hubs like those of Banff and Jasper National Park, many European countries have also seen an increase in train travel over the last few years.Dutch rail operator NS saw its third year of increasing international train travel ...

  6. Paving the Way for Green Travel: Rail Beats Air with 13x Lower Carbon

    The work is part of the rail industry's Green Travel Pledge, which is a commitment to empower business travellers to make more informed choices on environmentally-friendly travel modes. The Green Travel Pledge rail carbon calculator offers a detailed, route-specific estimation that takes into account the intricacies and diversity of rail ...

  7. Why Eurail is your greenest choice

    Sustainable travel. Aside from walking or biking, taking the train is the most environmentally friendly way of traveling. In fact, compared to cars and airplanes, trains emit between 66 and 75 percent less carbon. In terms of energy consumption, use of space, and noise levels, trains are far more sustainable too.

  8. How Green Is Rail Travel?

    According to a study by Mikhail V Chester and Arpad Horvath of University of California, Berkeley, some train systems should be seen as nearly on a par with travel in large aircraft in terms of greenhouse gases emitted for each mile a passenger travels. Both air and train also produce fewer emissions for each mile of passenger travel than cars ...

  9. How to travel better: a beginner's guide to sustainable travel in 2023

    The single more significant way to reduce the carbon emissions of travelling is to tackle the transport portion, which is often responsible for at least 70% of the carbon emissions of a holiday ...

  10. Green Trains. What Makes Rail Travel So Eco-Friendly?

    It's full steam ahead for green train travel. • rail is responsible for less than 1 per cent of the UK's total CO2 emissions. • rail creates around half the CO2 emissions per passenger per mile than cars. • rail creates around a quarter the CO2 emissions per passenger per mile than domestic air travel. • train emissions have reduced ...

  11. Taking the Train for Sustainable Travel

    The first segment of the high-speed line is expected to begin operation in 2030, running from Bakersfield to Merced. Slower, traditional passenger trains are experiencing something of a rail renaissance, thanks to a $66 billion influx of federal funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Amtrak has announced plans to triple its ...

  12. Greening the railways: modernising trains for the post-carbon era

    Greening the railways: modernising trains for the post-carbon era. Transport is one of the biggest global emitters of CO₂, and while rail is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel, there is still work to be done to reduce and eliminate the industry's carbon footprint and other emissions. Alstom's Services business is ...

  13. A hydrogen-powered train will make transport history as ...

    A hydrogen-powered train will make transport history as Europe looks to become world leader in green rail travel. ... or power lines can also be used to electrify rail travel and cut pollution ...

  14. Why rail can transport us to a greener future

    The European Union Commission has declared 2021 the "Year of Rail" and the EU Green Deal framework published in July 2021 calls for a substantial shift to rail, with the "Smart Mobility Strategy" stating targets of a 50% increase in freight in the EU transported by rail by 2030 and 100% increase by 2050. Trains emit up to nine times ...

  15. Meet Greenrail, The Startup That Will Make Train Travel Even ...

    "In Europe alone, concrete sleepers make for 85% of all the 380.000.000 installed ties; their solid structure and weight guarantees a better stability of the line, which in turn allows train ...

  16. What is green travel and how can you travel sustainably?

    Check out plenty more environmental volunteer opportunities on Worldpackers. The first step of green travel is being aware of what it is and why we should be trying to travel more sustainably. The second step is changing our mindsets and consciously making decisions that have less of an impact on the environment.

  17. The Most—and Least—Eco-Friendly Ways to Travel

    It's a similar story on the global front. In the European Union, road transport accounted for 72 percent of transportation-related CO 2 emissions in 2016, according to a report released by the European Parliament this year. The next largest contributor was water transport (boats and ships), at 13.6 percent, followed by air travel at 13.4 percent.

  18. International Rail Travel

    Innovation meets eco-friendly travel. Welcome to greengloberailways.com! We empower UK travel businesses, meaning tour operators and travel agencies, to offer unique European rail experiences to their clients. Furthermore we can help European Railways to make a presence in the UK, if they wish to expand their reach via the Trade.

  19. Amtrak Tickets, Schedules and Train Routes

    WHY AMTRAK Amtrak's unique travel experience for families, individuals and groups BEFORE YOU GO Tickets & fares, accessible travel service, security & ID requirements AT THE STATION Boarding information, station lounges, baggage & station services ONBOARD Seating & sleeping, baggage info, train amenities, food & dining

  20. Green Line (VTA)

    The Green Line is a light rail line in Santa Clara County, California, and part of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) light rail system.It serves 26 stations in the cities of Santa Clara, San Jose, and Campbell, traveling between Old Ironsides and Winchester stations. The line connects Levi's Stadium, San Jose International Airport (via a bus connection), Downtown San Jose ...

  21. Travel

    Take a train or a bus to reach your Erasmus mobility destination, as low-carbon alternatives to short-haul flights. By doing so, the Erasmus+ programme foresees an extra 50 euros and up to 4 days of additional individual support for your journey. Ask your international/mobility office for more information about this funding opportunity.

  22. The Little Green Train Of Sardinia

    Train traveller, well known TV personality and travel company owner, Scott McGregor, has travelled on some of the world's most inspiring railway tours and led the most exclusive group adventures to numerous exotic destinations over the years. "Rustic, character-filled, zig-zagging railways of Burma, opulent hotels on wheels in India South Africa and Sri Lanka, steam-hauled heritage trains ...

  23. My family tried traveling by train instead of car, and I get the hype

    Here are 6 ways rail travel is better. After taking road trips throughout the US, I tried traveling by Amtrak train instead. My experiences on the rails have been comfortable and hassle-free ...

  24. How can you tell if a travel business cares about the environment?

    Third-party certifications from Green Key, LEED and WELL can be signs that a travel company means business about the environment. Transportation companies may also offer verified offsets from ...

  25. Green Line Streetcar Schedule

    Instructions: Click/Tap to highlight the row & column. Scroll/Swipe left and right for longer schedules. Route Google Map ». VTA Map ». VTA Schedule. Monday-Friday - To Old Ironsides Station. Monday-Friday - To Winchester Station. Saturday - To Old Ironsides Station. Saturday - To Winchester Station.

  26. Old Ironsides

    Green Line. Active. Old Ironsides - Winchester. View Map. Related. light-rail. Blue Line. light-rail. Orange Line. ... Plan to arrive at the stop or station at least five (5) minutes prior to the bus or train arrival time (all times are approximate). Rapid buses may depart up to five minutes earlier than the time shown, if traffic allows. Hide ...

  27. Planned Outage for Some Cornell Lab Services

    Several Cornell Lab of Ornithology services will be unavailable beginning March 19 through 6:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern time on March 21. This is a one-time disruption while we migrate more than 1.6 billion eBird observations and additional project data to new servers. After the move, our websites will have improved reliability, stability, and room ...

  28. Chairman Green Issues Statement on CBP Suspending Rail Operations in

    WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) released the following statement after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the suspension of rail operations in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas amid an influx of inadmissible aliens: "Because of Secretary Mayorkas' failure to secure the border, CBP is halting legitimate trade and ...