[ECO]One Day per Year From Car to Train

[Eco 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The *** rail industry’s new campaign encourages drivers to switch one day per year from car to train, potentially saving significant CO2 emissions.

A collaborative initiative between the rail industry and Campaign for Better Transport highlights how minor travel habit adjustments can significantly contribute to climate change mitigation efforts. Recent research conducted by the rail industry reveals that a simple

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

could yield substantial environmental benefits.

The study demonstrates that if each of Britain’s 42.3 million licensed car drivers were to switch one day per year from car to train, the carbon dioxide savings would equate to turning off half of the ***’s street lighting for a year. Alternatively, this reduction would be equivalent to insulating 265,627 homes or recycling 450 Olympic-sized swimming pools of recyclable waste.

Jacqueline Starr, CEO at Rail Delivery Group, emphasizes the critical role of rail travel in tackling climate change. “Rail travel is one of the greenest forms of public transport,” Starr states. “We’re encouraging motorists to swap their car keys for a train ticket just once a year. It’s a small switch that can make a big difference in helping people to reduce their carbon footprint.”

To provide context for this initiative, it’s important to consider the comparative emissions of different transportation modes. According to the *** Department for Transport, the average CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre for various modes of transport are:

• Cars: 171g CO2/km
• Buses: 104g CO2/km
• National rail: 41g CO2/km
• Light rail and tram: 35g CO2/km
• Cycling and walking: 0g CO2/km

These figures highlight the significant environmental advantage of rail travel over private car use. Trains emit less than a quarter of the CO2 per passenger kilometre compared to cars, making the switch one day per year from car to train an easy way to make a big impact. The more days it’s done, the better for the planet.

The research indicates that 67% of people want to reduce their carbon footprint. However, many face barriers to action: 22% believe their efforts won’t make a difference, 17% think it will be too difficult, and 16% cite a lack of information.

To put the impact of this switch into perspective, switching one day per year from car to train saves as much CO2 as a person recycling for four weeks or doing 55 loads of laundry at 30 degrees instead of 40 degrees.

Silviya Barrett, Director of Policy and Campaigns at Campaign for Better Transport, supports this initiative: “Something as simple as one day per year from car to train is an easy but very impactful way to reduce your carbon footprint. Choosing to travel by train also reduces traffic jams and

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

while connecting you to the people, places and things you love.

The study also reveals popular green behaviors among the public. Recycling tops the list at 83%, followed by reducing food waste (71%), using energy-saving light bulbs (69%), and washing clothes at lower temperatures (58%). Combining these actions with a monthly car-to-train switch could reduce an individual’s carbon footprint by 15%.

Interestingly, the research shows that making sustainable choices has positive psychological effects. People report feeling happier (24%), healthier (20%), and more optimistic about the future (19%) when engaging in environmentally friendly practices like switching one day per year from car to train. This finding is particularly significant given that 68% of respondents express ***** for future generations, and 75% believe more action is needed to address climate change.

The rail industry’s campaign highlights the stark difference in environmental impact between car and train travel. Cars are found to be nearly five times more polluting than trains. By showcasing this difference, the industry hopes to encourage even car enthusiasts to consider occasional switches to rail travel.

This initiative aligns with World Car Free Day, promoting alternative transportation methods to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality in urban areas. The rail industry and Campaign for Better Transport are using this opportunity to encourage people to reconsider their travel choices and their impact on the environment by switching one day per year from car to train.

The campaign’s focus on small, achievable changes is designed to overcome the perception that individual actions are insignificant in the face of global climate challenges. The initiative aims to empower individuals to contribute meaningfully to climate change mitigation efforts by demonstrating the collective impact of minor adjustments in travel habits like switching one day per year from car to train.

From an international perspective, similar initiatives have been successful in other countries. For instance, Switzerland’s well-developed rail network carries 0.74 million passengers per day, which is impressive for a country with a population of just 8.5 million. The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has set ambitious goals to become climate-neutral by 2030, showcasing how national rail systems can lead in sustainability efforts.

In Japan, the Shinkansen (bullet train) network has been a cornerstone of sustainable transportation for decades. The network’s efficiency and popularity have significantly reduced domestic air travel, lowering overall transport emissions. In 2018, the CO2 emissions per passenger-kilometer for the Tokaido Shinkansen were just 16% of those for private cars.

Germany’s Deutsche Bahn has also significantly reduced its environmental impact. The company aims to be climate-neutral by 2040 and has already increased its use of renewable energy sources to power its trains. In 2020, 61% of Deutsche Bahn’s traction current came from renewable sources, with plans to increase this to 100% by 2038.

These international examples demonstrate that the ***’s initiative is part of a global trend towards more sustainable rail travel. They also provide models for potential future developments in the *** rail system to reduce its environmental impact further.

As the world continues to grapple with the urgent need for

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

like this serve as practical examples of how everyday choices can contribute to larger environmental goals. The rail industry’s research and campaign provide a tangible pathway for individuals to reduce their carbon footprint while highlighting the broader benefits of sustainable transportation choices.

The post

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

appeared first on

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up