Travel by train instead of plane for your next holiday

A young woman travelling on a train and taking a photo of the view from the window

Tips and inspiration

A map of europe tracking the flight courses of many planes

In 2022, 73% of international flights from the UK were to Europe.

In terms of CO2 emissions per passenger per kilometre, short-haul flights are bigger polluters than long-haul flights. It’s therefore even more important to use rail for these shorter journeys.

Sources:
Transport Statistics Great Britain: 2022 International Travel, gov.uk (2023)opens in a new window
Which form of transport has the smallest carbon footprint? Our World in Data (2023)opens in a new window

Image © Irina Anosova/Shutterstock

Why is this action beneficial?

Plane travel is the most carbon-intensive activity you can do. A return flight from Manchester to Rome produces more CO2 emissionsopens in a new window than a person living in Nepal generates in a year. Taking just one less flight a year is an impactful way to cut emissions.

During take-off and landing, planes release various pollutants, including fine particulate matter, that can directly impact air quality near airports.

By telling others about your flight-free holiday and sharing how easy and fun it can be, you can encourage others to consider whether flying is the only option. Share this action page with them, so they have the tools to book a train holiday too.

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More ways to get involved

The Find Your Climate Action tool is part of our Fixing Our Broken Planet programme, which is designed to inspire people to take action to help the planet. The programme also includes a new gallery as well as experiences and events.

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