Exploring Europe by Rail: A Sustainable Journey Across Nine Countries. Gregory Savioz-Buck, University of Sherbrooke, Canada.

This summer, my partner and I decided to travel across Europe, using only trains to reduce our environmental impact. For several years now, I’ve struggled with flying due to its significant pollution. However, I am a passionate traveler, so I’ve been looking for ways to continue exploring while minimizing my carbon footprint. As we considered more sustainable travel options, we concluded that utilizing the European rail network—superior in quality compared to the American system—was the best solution. The two images below show the American and European rail networks, clearly illustrating that the European network offers far more choices.

Here is the itinerary we followed in the summer of 2024. To get to Europe, we had no choice but to fly. Our flight departed from Boston and landed in Amsterdam, with a layover in Iceland. However, once in Europe, we traveled exclusively by train: Amsterdam (Netherlands), Warsaw (Poland), Krakow (Poland), Prague (Czech Republic), Bratislava (Slovakia), Kosice (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary), Vienna (Austria), and Sion (Switzerland).

Taking the train is certainly slower than flying, but it has its advantages. In fact, when you consider it, traveling by train isn't much longer than flying, because you don't need to arrive 2 or 3 hours in advance—10 to 15 minutes early is usually sufficient. Upon arriving at the train station, you simply disembark and head to your destination. There’s no need to wait for baggage claim since your bags are with you in the cabin. You also avoid airport security checks and customs. Additionally, traveling by train allows you to enjoy the scenery of each country, giving you a deeper sense of its character.

One of the greatest benefits of traveling by train, as we experienced, is the cost. For an itinerary like ours, spanning 9 countries over approximately 2.5 weeks, the price of our train pass was around $400 USD per person. In comparison, a flight between Amsterdam and Warsaw costs about $250 USD per person.

Another significant advantage of train travel is the reduction in pollution. While the cost of travel is important, the ecological impact of our journey has become increasingly significant to us. Even before we departed, we calculated the environmental impact of flying from Amsterdam to Warsaw. Here are the results:

Ecological impact of the Amsterdam-Warsaw flight: 0.15 tons of CO2 per person.
Ecological impact of the entire train itinerary: 0.02 tons of CO2 per person.

· Source : https://calculator.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx?tab=3

The difference is clear. The choice seems obvious. While flying may appear to be the easy and fast option, it requires arriving several hours early, undergoing all the security procedures, paying more (for an itinerary like ours), and, most importantly, causing significantly more pollution.

Flying is sometimes necessary. However, whenever possible, taking the train is a more eco-friendly option. In North America, the rail network is not very well developed. Yet, many people travel and many go to Europe. This could be a great opportunity to make a difference and try a different form of public transportation that benefits both the planet and your wallet.

Links

To buy a global train pass in Europe

- https://www.eurail.com/en/eurail-passes/global-pass

To calculate the ecological impact for every type of public transportation

- https://calculator.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx?tab=3

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