Get this: “On Sunday 13 September 2026, people across Europe put on their pyjamas and meet on their station platforms — to celebrate the trains that let us sleep, and to demand an end to the flights that don’t.”
Admittedly, we have a few other things on our minds here in the US. But let’s not go to bed without thinking about how our European cousins. (I wrote earlier today about all the support we got from European friends and colleagues 25 years ago, too, and about my visit to New York in October 2001—long before the Train Campaign, but of course I took the train, Wassaic to Grand Central. Read The Way We Now.)
Read all about the pajama parties. Couldn’t we come up with something like this??
Night trains
~28× less greenhouse gas than flying. Planes emit around 28 times more than long-distance trains (IEA, EU 2019 average).
The only real alternative to 500–3,500 km flights. Board at midnight, wake up to 2,000 km away.
~3% of the EU’s climate emissions preventable by a European night-train rollout.
No new infrastructure needed. Night trains run on the rails Europe already has.
News
Taking the train can be almost twice as fast as flying for some journeys in France
In 2023, France introduced a ban on domestic short-haul flights where there is a rail alternative of under two and a half hours. It was brought in to curb carbon emissions, but swapping a plane for a train could also be the cheaper and, it turns out, faster option.
Research from Trainline compared five national journeys for which the air option is soon expected to disappear and found that some intercity trips are made twice as fast by choosing rail transport.
Heatwaves show UK must do more to promote sustainable transport, campaigners say
Last year, domestic transport was responsible for almost a third of the UK’s net greenhouse gas emissions – with the total emissions from the sector increasing 2% over the previous year.
The groups call for a “modal shift” in transport provision. “What that means is creating the conditions which allow people to travel for a higher proportion of the trip by walking, cycling, public transport and shared mobility than by private cars,” said Ben Plowden, the chief executive of the Campaign for Better Transport.
By joining us, you are championing a vision for a greener and more connected region, committed to investing in innovative, practical transportation solutions. Let’s take a step towards a more interconnected, sustainable future.
Ask your legislators
It’s election season, a chance to ask your local and state leaders what they are going to do to tackle affordability and mobility in these times of rising fuel prices. Public transit that works is a boon to everyone, especially to working people who commute each day. The breakdown of local transit—as has happend in Berkshire County—is hardest on people who need it most, but it’s tough on businesses and tourists, too.
We’re hoping to hold an in-person event next month in New Milford. Our podcast with Luke Bronin, Democratic candidate in CT-01, ran into technical issues in the first few minutes, so we’re trying to schedule another recording session. He has been involved with the North Atlantic Rail initiative as well as many projects in Connecticut, so that’ll be a lively and useful conversation.
Become a Train Angel!
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The Train Campaign is a project of the Barrington Institute, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, EIN 20-1670260. All contributions are tax deductible. Your support makes it possible for our volunteers to do these things:
keep you up to date on policy developments and make it easy to contact legislators* provide regular updates about new train and transport projects
extend our outreach to business and government leaders across the region
create a series of podcasts so you can listen to rail experts & get updates