Last updated:Today at 12:20
Train companies affected:National Rail
Making a Difference – One Train Journey at a Time
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Did you know that…
An average train journey puts nearly 5 times less carbon emissions into the air than making this journey by car*
By switching from car to train, you could save enough carbon to power your phone for up to 8 years*
Choosing the train instead of a car could save the same carbon as boiling a kettle 455 times*
Find out more about how we are making train travel greener.
Watch our one train journey at a time videos
We’ve teamed up with sustainability influencer Nicole Whittle – @veganbeautygirl – to show how travelling by train can take you to some amazing places, and lower your environmental impact.
Click to watch: Day trip to Bristol
Nicole takes the train from Reading to Bristol to check out street art, independent shops and sustainable dining
Click to watch: Day trip to Edale
Getting back to nature with a hike in Edale in the Peak District, just a train ride from Manchester
Click to watch: Day trip to Harrogate
Catching the train from Leeds to explore Harrogate’s wealth of antique shops and the luxurious Turkish Baths
16-25 Railcard
For everyone aged 16-25, and mature students
Just £30 for 1 year or £70 for 3 years
1/3 off rail travel
Find out more about the 16-25 Railcard.(external link, opens in a new tab)
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Campaign for Better Transport(external link, opens in a new tab) has been our partner on this project and conducted the data calculations and substantiation of the data. You can see the full methodology used to calculate the data here (PDF, 191k).
*How we calculated the data
Statement: An average train journey puts nearly 5 times less carbon emissions into the air than making this journey by car.
Substantiation: A person travelling in an average car produces 0.167kg CO2e per km (based on the average emissions of all cars on the road of various types and engines), while National Rail trains on average produce 0.035kg CO2e per passenger per km. This means the average car is 4.7 times (nearly 5 times) more polluting.
Statement: By switching from car to train, you could save enough carbon to power your phone for up to 8 years.
Substantiation: The average train journey is 37.3km, emitting 1.32kg CO2e per passenger per journey. Making this journey by the average car emits 4.14kg CO2e per passenger (based on the average of all cars on the road of various types and engines, and average occupancy). This saves 2.82kg CO2e which is equivalent to the emissions in the energy needed to power your average smartphone (Android and iPhone) for up to 8 years.
Statement: Choosing the train instead of a car could save the same carbon as boiling a kettle 455 times.
Substantiation: The average train journey is 37.3km, emitting 1.32kg CO2e per passenger per journey. Making this journey by the average car emits 4.14kg CO2e per passenger (based on the average of all cars on the road of various types and engines, and average occupancy). This saves 2.82kg CO2e which is equivalent to boiling up to 455 cups of water in a kettle.