No 1: The Potential of Night Trains
One of the most exciting things in recent has been the return of night trains across Europe. Many of them had disappeared. It was thought they could not compete with budget, short-haul flights. But they are back and popular. And there will be more of them starting up over the next few years.
https://interrailplanner.com/blog/exciting-new-train-routes-in-europe-for-2024-and-beyond/
People will travel longer distances by train at night because it suits them to spend longer on the train. The EU believes that during the day 500 km is maximum distance rail travel could be a more attractive option than plane. https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/work/2023-rail-vs-air_en.pdf
But that changes at night. Back on Track Europe has found:
For the majority of short (500 – 1,500 km) and medium haul (1,500 – 3,500 km) flights, night trains are the best alternative, because most people are not willing to spend 6 hours or more of their daytime on a train. The advantage of night trains is the possibility to sleep while travelling and cover a distance of up to 2,000 km, or even up to 3,000 km when combined with high speed rail.
Of course the trains need to be modern and comfortable. Many of the new operators, including private operators, are brining in new trains. They also need to be affordable and simple to book.
Rail would become more competitive if the tax exemptions, like no tax on aviation, were removed. But the potential for the growth in night trains in real. You can read more about it here: https://back-on-track.eu/general-position-paper/
15 April 2024
No 2: The Case Against Night Flights
Some of the biggest protests in Europe and beyond have been about night flights. They can ruin a night’s sleep and, as Eleftheria Emfietzi, the UECNA Secretary, writes in this article, can cause health problems: https://www.uecna.eu/the-health-impacts-caused-by-night-flights/
In recent years a number of European airports have either banned night flights or restricted the hours when they can operate. You will some of the key airports which have bans or restrictions here: https://www.uecna.eu/night-flight-bans-or-restrictions-at-european-airports/
But there are still many airports that have night flights. Are they needed?
There are three types of night flights: freight, short-haul, and inter-continental. More than 40% of freight flights take place at night: https://www.eurocontrol.int/sites/default/files/publication/files/tat5-night-freight-report.pdf
Most freight does not need to arrive at night. A report from the International Logistics Quality Institute as far back as 2004 found that just 10% of short-distance express freight is time-critical. And there is no evidence that most of the freight on long-distance night flights is time-critical.
22 April 2024