Traveling by train: a sustainable alternative
Travel by train is becoming increasingly popular, with many destinations becoming easier, faster and more sustainable to reach. Not all business travel can be done by train, but where it can, this is a very good and also more sustainable alternative than traveling by plane. I (Marieke Bosch - Business Travel Consultant in Arnhem) would like to take you through my personal experiences with (sustainable) train travel in Europe.
Environmental gains from reduced CO2 emissions
Earth's vulnerability due to climate change and the need for short-term action is one of the great challenges of our time. Travel connects and expands. Travel also has a great impact on CO2 emissions, one of the main causes of climate change. After walking and cycling, traveling by train is the most environmentally friendly way to travel.
Particulate matter emissions from a train trip are very low compared to a trip by car or airplane. More than 55% of a trip's CO2 emissions come from transportation. The rest is from lodging and on-site activities. If air travel and trips by car are made by train from now on, a huge environmental gain can be achieved in a short period of time: a saving of a total of about 35% of CO2 emissions from all emissions made.
Even more to see and experience on a train trip
I myself have taken many trips by train. For example, I have traveled several times by night train to Austria and by Thalys to Paris. I also enjoy taking the train for parts of the journey at my travel destination, if only because this is often a special experience. Moreover, I can share these experiences again with our clients, because even though I travel privately, I always look from a business perspective as well, so that as a Business Travel Consultant I can provide our clients with up-to-date information again.
For example, I have traveled portions of my journey within Indonesia, Egypt, Thailand, Spain, Italy and the United States by train. This way you can fully enjoy the scenery and arrive at your next destination rested.
Unique train stations with a story
Train stations that have stayed with me very well are Madrid Atocha and Grand Central Station in New York. Atocha Station was modernized in 1992 and a tropical botanical garden was created in the passageway, here you can even find ponds with turtles. An oasis of calm in the busy station.
The first time I arrived in the station hall of Grand Central Station in New York I could only look around in admiration, what a beautiful immense hall and of course a landmark from many movies. Even if you do not travel by train, a visit is highly recommended.
Fast and comfortable from A to B
The diagram below shows some of the many direct travel options from Amsterdam Central Station. However, there are also many direct travel options from Utrecht, Rotterdam, Hilversum, Amersfoort, Apeldoorn, Arnhem and Deventer, among others. We will therefore always give you the optimal route for your train journey. High-speed trains, such as the Thalys, Eurostar and ICE have many facilities on board. These include a dining car, catering service, power outlets at seats, quiet zones and WI-FI.
Of course the combination of plane and train is also a possibility, for example within the United States or Japan, these countries are known for their good network.
The benefits in brief
Here are a few more advantages of traveling by train:
1. No check-in time. You don't have to deal with a check-in time or lengthy wait, where at an airport you need to be present at least 2 hours in advance. With your ticket printed out or on the relevant carrier app, you can simply board from the platform. With this, you do not need to be present on the platform any earlier than 10 minutes before departure.
2. No checking at customs. With the exception of Eurostar to and from London. If you choose to travel by train within Europe (excluding travel to the UK) there is no customs or check-in desk.
3. You pay no surcharge for luggage and keep it with you during the trip. Unfortunately, more and more airlines are seeing baggage fees and limited luggage space. With train travel, there are no fees and you can bring as much as you want (even liquids). So you don't have to leave out the French wines, macaroons or German beers. You can just take these home with you! And you don't have to wait for your luggage when you arrive at your destination. This + the points mentioned above can save you at least 4 hours per trip!
4. Comfort & range of motion. More freedom of movement and generally more comfortable seats with more legroom.
5. Right in the center. Arrival directly in the center of the respective destination which eliminates or reduces the need for transfers.
6. Traveling by train is generally cheaper. The cheapest return ticket by plane from Amsterdam to Paris is about €150 and by train about €70.
7. Reduced CO2 emissions.
8. Working while traveling. Travel time can be used very efficiently, for example, to prepare for a work appointment or answer business emails.
9. Train facilities. Most trains have WiFi, power outlets and a dining car where you can get refreshments.
Should you have a destination in mind and are considering the following trips by train, then help us will be happy to help you work out a suitable itinerary. And don't forget to offset the CO2 emissions of your trip! At Uniglobe Alliance Travel we offer the possibility to automatically calculate and compensate the CO2 emissions of your business trip. Would you like to know more about this? Then take a look at here How we easily offset carbon emissions for your organization.
Travel Well!
Marieke Bosch,
Business Travel Consultant
Update: This blog first appeared on Sept. 4, 2020, and was updated with new information on Jan. 26, 2023.
