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Travel by train

Train travel is often seen as a relatively clean way to travel, and rightly so. The carbon emissions produced by train travel are between two to three times less than by road. Currently, rail travel accounts for about 7% of traffic but emits only about 0.2% of the carbon monoxide, 2% of nitrous oxides and 1% of volatile organic compounds produced by the transportation sector.

But these are averages and the greenness of train very much depends upon which train you are on. A recent study by the Rail Safety and Standards Board revealed that it can sometimes be greener to travel by car rather than rail. This is because some modern diesel trains can churn out double the amount of carbon emissions per passenger compared to a medium-sized car. Some remote rural lines can even be less efficient than gas guzzling 4X4 cars, because the trains are almost empty.

Travelling by electric train is a different story entirely. The best electric trains produce less than a third of carbon than diesel trains, and with the efficiency of electricity production improving this too will get better. The trouble is, only 40% of trains in the UK are electric, the lowest proportion in Europe. And to add insult to industry it can often cost more than alternative forms of transportation, including flying.

Even so, if you’re travelling abroad it can be a much more pleasant experience and, given the queues, security checks and delays at airports, can even work out faster!

For tips on how to travel greenly by train try the Man in Seat Sixty-One.