At the end of this week I am taking a trip with my mum on the Eurostar to Paris, which got me thinking about this sustainable mode of transport. Not all of my travel is sustainable but when I can I try and take the train instead. Not only does it produce fewer emissions per passenger than by car (according to Friends of the Earth it is roughly half!) but it is a great chance to sit back and see places in a different light.
Over Easter I went Interrailing in Eastern Europe and loved the freedom of travelling between countries by rail, meeting interesting people and sampling some delicious delicacies on the way. One day I’d like to follow Joanna Lumley’s footsteps and try the longest railway line in the world: the Trans-Siberian Railway!
According to Hull Trains, closer to home in the UK, 3.5 million passengers travel by train every day. However, this mode of transport has sometimes been criticised for being expensive and so here are my three top tips for reducing costs:
1. Book ahead. Rail companies release advanced tickets roughly 12 weeks ahead and these are cheaper.
2. See if you are eligible for a Railcard. If you are, you could save up to 1/3 of the price!
3. Look out for discounts. You can often save money by booking as a group of friends and you can sign up to emails such as the one from the Money Saving Expert. Newsletters like this can keep you up to date with offers such as the Eurostar seat sale from £29 each way!
Peterborough itself is well placed for train travel, with direct links to London, Birmingham and even Edinburgh. Two of our tourist attractions, Railworld and the Nene Valley Railway (NVR) offer fun days out for the whole family, including the NVR open day this weekend.
Our city was lucky enough earlier this year to have the Flying Scotsman soaring through our station and it is also set to return later in the year. So keep your eyes peeled – maybe seeing this part of our history will inspire you to hop on board too!
Jennie Orrell is Project Co-Ordinator at Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT).