GECO - Sustainability virtual italian fair
Among the most important challenges in sustainable mobility, at present, is the issue of medium- to long-distance travel. On a continent such as Europe, which is relatively small compared to others and with different countries and cultures concentrated in a geographically compact area, there are several options. The advent of low-cost airlines has revolutionised the tourism industry, allowing for quick and cheap travel from between European countries, and it is clear that the EU population has no intention of giving up this privilege. At the same time, however, the era of low-cost flights may be coming to an end, due to rising CO2 taxes and the increasing cost of fossil fuels. Is there a way to save the tourism industry on the continent? Some believe that night trains could be the answer.
Several railway companies have already started to increase the offer of night trains, at the moment mainly on a national level (as is the case, for instance, in Germany), but many experts, especially those involved in the devising of sustainability policies, are starting to suggest the creation of a cohesive European network, capable of competing with air transport in terms of efficiency and costs. Night trains offer specific perks: the great advantage of low-cost flights is that they allow for relatively short trips over long distances. They are the perfect solution for a weekend abroad. Night trains could be a good alternative for tourists looking for short trips and not necessarily willing to stay close to home. Nighttime travelling would make up for longer journeys.
Speculation about the possibility of reviving trains as the preferred means of transportation for the European tourist industry goes hand in hand with plans to modify and improve the overall service. In Austria, for instance, there are plans to offer new night trains to various European destinations. The aim is to encourage passengers to take the train rather than flying, by creating more comfortable carriages that allow passengers to travel comfortably overnight. Some start-ups are also experimenting with top class trains, whose interiors should be equipped as luxury hotel rooms, so that travelling by train can represent an added value to the overall tourist experience. The idea is to replicate the charm of the legendary Orient Express, but with individual cabins equipped with bathrooms, showers, internet connection and workstations for business travellers.
One of the many steps that could be taken to make railway travel truly competitive and to turn night trains into an attractive alternative to flights on medium- or short-distance routes is the creation of a simple booking system on a European level, comparable to those that can now be used to buy tickets for multiple airlines. A simplified system combined with a mix of speed and comfort could finally make sustainable transport truly competitive for both tourism and business travel.
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Published on 05-01-2022
