Train Travel Renaissance in Europe: Why Rail Is Beating Budget Airlines
Over the recent past, Europe’s travel landscape has been dominated by budget airlines, with many preferring the get there fast mentality coupled with the fact that most of these flights are actually affordable to the ordinary European citizen. However, more recently, the dynamic appears to be shifting. Travellers across the continent appear to be rediscovering the romance, charm, comfort, and environmental allure that comes with traveling via rail. This renewed love for the iron road has got tongues wagging, with many struggling to grapple with the fact that there has been a sudden shift in preference among the masses.
Even in an era dominated by budget airlines and online conveniences like the Ice casino EU site, travellers are willing to swap the speed of air travel for the comfort, flexibility, and eco-consciousness that comes with railways. That’s just one of the many aspects at play when talking about these two popular means of transport. Let’s explore this dynamic in detail. Shall we?
The Irrefragable Charm of the Rails
While we are about to dive into the intricacies and try to come up with a complex reason as to why travelers across Europe prefer trains, it is important to just point out that trains are awesome. It would take a hardened person not to appreciate the beauty of traveling through the Alps in a carriage. Now that we’ve established that, we can try to make sense of this preference.
Climate awareness, for instance, plays a major role. In the 21st century, many are aware of the effects of certain activities on the environment. According to ABTA research, 47% of travellers are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of their holiday activities. With that in mind, once you go down the research path, you’ll learn that air travel contributes to 13% of EU gas emissions. On the other end of the spectrum, travel via the tracks contributes just 0.4% of these emissions.
From a moral perspective, it is there for all and sundry to see. In turn, the specific governments across the continent have started to take action. France, for instance, has already banned short-haul domestic flights where an alternative train option of 2.5 hours or less exists. Their counterparts in Norway, Spain, and Germany are also considering taking similar measures.
A New Wave of Routes Is Emerging
The mass transit renaissance is spreading across Europe. This has led to the introduction and revival of new routes at a pace that has never been seen before. Some highlights to look at include;
The emergence of high-speed operators such as Eurostar and Thalys has also gone a long way in helping bolster efficiency and expand the reach of rail transport. With the infrastructure being revived, this form of transport is slowly reclaiming its lost glory days.
Shifting Passenger Perspective
According to Mark Smith, founder of seat61.com, one of the continent’s most revered rail travel resources, his site now attracts visits north of 1.5 million each month. According to Mark, when he launched his site, most people interested in travelling via train did so because they feared flying, were physically unable to fly, or loved trains. However, Mark has noted a fundamental shift in these opinions recently.
People now use the intercity services because they’re tired of airports and the stress of flying, and they also want to cut down on their carbon footprint. This shift in perspective underlines the fact that the iron road is no longer a preserve for a few but is now widely used by everyone.
The Booking Problem
For all its charm, the biggest frustration when it comes to using trains as a means of transportation across the continent has to be the booking process. The lack of a unified booking system across the 30 different countries makes it a nightmare when booking travel. The fragmentation of booking systems means that a simple trip from Birmingham to Barcelona will be complicated by a maze of connections.
The Future Looks Great for Rail
It has taken quite some time, but the powers that be are slowly getting it right from a rail transport perspective. Night trains are making a comeback, and every year now brings new routes, faster trains, and improved connections. With demand rising rapidly among the citizens and billions already invested by the various governments, the renaissance is here with us, and it’s beautiful to see it unfolding!
