Welcome to our fifth sustainable travel roundup, created in collaboration with Flight Free UK, where we will share some of the most recent updates, news, and developments shaping the future of eco-friendly travel.
This month's stories highlight plans for a new high-speed train which is set to link Barcelona and Malaga, the active travel benefit since the launch of the London low emission zone and the world's most sustainable travel destination.
Tax on Europe’s frequent flyers could raise €64bn a year
A tax on Europe’s frequent flyers could slow global heating and raise €64bn (£54bn) a year at no extra cost to most people, a report by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) has found.
Just over half the benefits in a given year would come from the 5% of people who fly the most, while 72% of people would escape fees by flying once or not at all. The levy would start at zero for the first return flight in 12 months and rise by €100 for each return trip, with surcharges for longer distances and first class travel.
Find out more on the Guardian website.
Direct TGV train link between Paris and Berlin to start December 16
A direct TGV train linking Paris and Berlin is to start operations in December, fulfilling a long-held promise from both governments. The service, which will launch on December 16, will see one train per day go between the cities, via Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, and Frankfurt.
It will be jointly operated by the French and German state rail operators (SNCF and Deutsche Bahn), and is the first direct day-time rail route between the two cities.
Find out more on the Connexion website.
Campaigners call for unlimited ‘climate card’ UK rail pass
Greenpeace, which commissioned a study from the non-profit transport think tank Greengauge 21, believe Labour could spur a rail renaissance in the UK by allowing people around the UK unlimited train travel for a flat fee.
The report, entitled Fare Britannia, published on Thursday, estimated that a climate card covering all the UK nations could generate an additional 122m rail trips a year, which would save 40m car journeys and reduce emissions by about 380,000 tonnes of carbon.
Find out more on the Guardian website.
Barcelona is turning subway trains into power stations
Barcelona is transforming its subway system into a power source by using regenerative braking technology to fuel electric trains, station facilities, and even EV chargers across the city.
This approach not only cuts down on energy waste but also feeds into a growing network of EV chargers, helping the city’s broader push for sustainable transport.
Find out more on the Grist website.
A new high-speed train is set to link Barcelona and Malaga in under six hours
Launching this winter, the north-south route from Barcelona to Malaga is an extension of Iryo’s Barcelona to Seville line, which debuted last December.
The new service from the low-cost private rail operator will compete with Renfe’s existing premier AVE service, expanding the timetable while reducing ticket prices. Iryo’s service launches on 15 December, with one trip per day in each direction.
Find out more on the Euronews website.
London's low-emission zone got kids out of cars and onto their feet
A study found that 40% of kids in London's ultra-low emissions zone switched from car rides to walking or biking within a year of the policy's start. Researchers say this shift could combat childhood obesity and improve both mental and physical health.
Find out more on the Grist website.
Helsinki named world’s most sustainable travel destination
The Finnish capital was ranked number one in the latest Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index, which was published on 16 October 2024.
“Being named the world’s most sustainable travel destination is proof of the long-term work that has been done in Helsinki. We are developing and growing tourism sustainably together with tourism operators and local residents,” comments Juhana Vartiainen, Mayor of Helsinki.
Find out more on the Breaking Travel News website.
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By Eveline Vouillemin ©
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