Yesterday's Campaign (31.01.08) features a piece headed: 'Europe's rail networks seek agency to promote green credentials'. Exciting to see the rail networks positioning themselves in this way. Particularly in a culture where budget airlines have made travelling to europe a viable holiday and more frequent business destination for us all.
The article suggests that 'The winning agency will create a pan-European campaign that is expected to criticise the carbon footprint made by aeroplanes, while promoting the use of trains to business travellers.'
It is a fact that in Britain, 6% of CO2 emissions come from aircraft engines (higher than the global average of 2%), but despite this, it's unclear why the agencies would need to focus on criticising air travel's carbon footprint? When there are some very obvious benefits to rail travel.
Less waiting, fewer queues, crowds, checks, you can move around freely and enjoy the changing landscapes as you near your destination. It may take longer (provided your plane isn't delayed), but isn't that part of the pleasure? Not having to rush, compete, less stress, more time to think, to write, to read.
Eurostar did some ads last year (see below) that really evoked the worst bits of air travel - the delays and frustrating check-in times - vs. the relative calm of travelling by train. That a one hour flight to Europe can take a whole day because of general airport chaos!
Trains you just step onto - it's beautiful, simple, carbon efficient and ... romantic... remember 'Before Sunrise'?
Comments