Traincations v planecations

With high-speed rail networks now touching all corners of Europe, rail travel is rapidly becoming a more viable travel option.

World tourists are beginning to embark on an increasing number of flight-free holidays, called ‘traincations’."

"Over half of all holidaymakers are considering swapping air travel for train travel" reported Global Cool – a green lifestyle organization – last year and this is now becoming the new reality.

Holidaymakers are tired of travelling by plane as half of plane travellers are put out by time wasted arriving ahead of departure and queuing whether it’s for check-in, security, or boarding the aircraft.
Climate conscious tourists also want to ‘tread more lightly’. A survey of 1,772 holidaymakers revealed that 83 per cent of holiday travellers wish they could make a more environmentally friendly journey.

"Much of this movement is borne from evident benefits of train travel such as flexible routes with quick and easy check-in, no lengthy journeys into city centres from out of town airports and a more comfortable experience." Says Global Cool

“Taking the train turns the journey into part of the holiday, a chance to relax, spend time with your family and watch the Swiss Alps or the Rhone villages or the Rhine castles glide past the window with a glass of red in your hand”.

A new resurgence in rail travel is being fuelled by a dramatic increase in rolling stock of high speed trains and new internet booking systems such as Quno.

If plans come to fruition, it will be possible to travel throughout Europe and Asia by point-to-point high speed train more quickly, easily and comfortably than by air.

And customers are willing the change see:www.travelmole.com/stories/1147008.php

So look out for a new breed of tour operator/agency that also fulfils this need, such as www.seat61.com and www.Greentraveller.co.uk

Said Richard Hammond of Greentraveller: "On greentraveller, we work with tour operators to fillet out only those trips that are reachable by train and/or ferry. Our 2011 unique visitor numbers to the site have increased by over 250% in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period (Jan-March) in 2010.

"I believe this increase is driven by the desire for more people looking to travel by train instead of flying, especially for journeys of up to 7/8 hours from the UK. We hear time and time again from operators that customers are increasingly asking for rail options. There are challenges in terms of
pricing and pre-booking tickets in Europe, particular for operators looking to bulk book trains, but there are continued efforts to address this. Watch this space!"

Valere Tjolle
Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite.

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