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Major Transport Routes 2 - Activity

Germany's ICE train, or InterCity Express.

Image: Germany's ICE train, or InterCity Express. It runs at up to 175mph between Germany and Amsterdam, Vienna, and Switzerland. Are services such as this a viable alternative to low cost air fares? Copyright: Lukas Horak

At a time when climate change researchers are warning that the UK will be unable to meet its targets on reducing pollution, there is plenty of material available on the Web comparing air travel with other transport options.

In an article looking into how far it is possible to travel on a limited budget, the BBC set out to calculate the longest journeys you can make using, firstly, air travel and secondly, rail. To read the results of this exercise, go to the article, A £200 ticket to ride.(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4267086.stm)

A report commissioned by the Aviation Environment Federation for the environmental pressure group, Friends of the Earth in 2000, investigated the impact of shifting demand for air travel within the UK to rail. The study found that there is significant scope for switching from air to rail, although there needs to be:

  • Investment in the rail network, including links to the major domestic airports
  • A commitment by the government to change tax policy to encourage the transfer of UK travel from air to rail

The benefits of shifting demand from air to rail identified by the study were a reduction in harmful greenhouse gas emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (Nox). However, some disadvantages in the policy were found, including (potentially) more noise pollution due to increased rail transport and the need to take land in order to build new rail infrastructure.

The report, From Planes to Trains [PDF, 535 KB], (http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/planes_trains.pdf) is available to download from the Friends of the Earth Web site.

Rail travel is often regarded as being an over-priced, over-crowded and unreliable form of transport. But there are advocates of rail travel who argue that there are significant benefits of using trains for not only the environment, but also for individuals. These benefits, some argue, are especially important for people using the rail system for overseas travel. An excellent source of information for those who think that air travel is their only option is 'The Man in Seat Sixty-One'.(http://www.seat61.com/)

Tasks:

  1. Read the BBC article on travelling for £200 and comment on the journeys that were possible for this sum of money. Did the writer take any 'short-cuts' in calculating journey lengths?
  2. Why is air travel so cheap compared to other forms of transport? Use the resources identified elsewhere in this article, as well as the Biz/ed 'At your Leisure' feature, Low Flying Fares: An End to Cheap, No Frills?(http://www.bized.co.uk/current/leisure/2003_4/010304.htm), to carry out further research.
  3. As consumers become more aware of the harmful impact on the environment caused by greater air travel, airlines are beginning to respond to their concerns. Find evidence in the information sources provided, of what some airlines are doing to help air travellers make a positive contribution to reducing their environmental 'footprint'.
  4. Use the following resources to find out the cost of arranging return travel for a single person to each of the following destinations - the Netherlands, Greece, Morocco and France - by either air or rail: In each case choose your own final resort or city and make your own assumptions about the age of the traveller and length of stay.

    easyJet airplane

    Image: Does easyJet beat the competition consistently in terms of cost? Copyright: easyJet airline company limited

  5. Write a brief summary of what you did in Task 4. Identify the pros and cons of each of the routes chosen in terms of the following:
    • Access to airport or train station
    • Cost of journey
    • Journey time
    • Ease of onward travel
    • Enjoyment of the travel experience