Climate responsibility isn't an add-on—it's our foundation
A round-trip flight from London to Rome generates approximately 234 kg of CO2 per passenger. The same journey by train produces about 22 kg—a 90% reduction. This isn't a theoretical calculation. It's the measurable difference between modes of transport.
We're living through a climate crisis. Tourism accounts for roughly 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with aviation representing a disproportionate share. The industry's response has been inadequate: carbon offsets that don't offset, "sustainable tourism" that still relies on flying, greenwashing that obscures continued harm.
Rail travel offers an actual alternative, not a symbolic gesture. European trains run on increasingly renewable electricity. Even diesel trains emit far less than planes because steel wheels on steel rails are inherently more efficient than keeping metal airborne.
But sustainability isn't just carbon accounting. It's about what kind of tourism we enable. Flying encourages brief, extractive visits—drop in, see highlights, leave. Rail travel naturally encourages longer stays and deeper engagement, supporting local economies beyond airport hotels and tour buses.
We design routes using only trains, trams, and occasional ferries. No flights. No rental cars. This isn't ideological purity—it's practical commitment to reducing travel emissions by the most effective means available.
While rail is low-carbon, it's not zero-carbon. We offset all remaining emissions through verified European reforestation projects, primarily in Switzerland and Austria. We pay for these offsets ourselves—they're built into our operating costs, not passed to travelers.
We work with family-run hotels, local restaurants, and regional guides. These partnerships keep tourism revenue in communities and support businesses that existed before tourism and will exist after. No international chains. No foreign-owned extraction.
We don't package every meal, don't organize every activity, don't fill every hour. This reduces resource consumption and gives travelers freedom to make their own choices. Less organized tourism means less waste.
All route information, tickets, and guides are digital. No printed packets. No glossy brochures. We send PDFs and maintain a traveler portal. When you need physical tickets (some trains still require them), we arrange station pickup.
Some routes only operate during optimal seasons. This reduces energy waste (no heating Mediterranean hotels in empty winter months) and aligns travel with natural rhythms. Not every place should be visited year-round.
We financially support European night train expansion through industry associations and direct advocacy. Better rail infrastructure benefits everyone. We view competitors not as threats but as allies in shifting travel away from aviation.
We publish annual sustainability reports detailing our carbon emissions, offset purchases, and progress toward goals. No greenwashing. No vague claims. Just numbers and honest assessment of where we succeed and where we can improve.
We must be honest: individual travel choices, while important, won't solve the climate crisis. Systemic change requires policy shifts, infrastructure investment, and economic restructuring. Choosing trains over planes is meaningful but insufficient.
Still, we believe in modeling alternatives. Every train journey demonstrates that European travel doesn't require flying. Every successful itinerary proves that slow travel is practical, enjoyable, and viable. As more people choose rail, political will for investment grows. Infrastructure follows demand.
We're not selling absolution. We're offering a less harmful way to satisfy the human desire to explore. That's worthwhile even if it's not sufficient.