While the well-worn assessment that “life is a journey, not a destination” may not refer specifically to the West Coast Main Line, the general point remains true: if you’re going to travel, make your trip as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Does this mean interminable hours stuck in traffic jams, queuing at airport security, sweating in stuffy cars or slowly succumbing to deep vein thrombosis in seats with leg space designed for four-year-olds? No, it does not. It means getting the train. And here’s why.
You’re saving the planet (sort of)
Go on a long car journey and you can expect to emit well over twice the CO2 per person you would going by train. Considering a plane? Just know that you’ll be pumping out more than 10 times the CO2 per person you would on the train. Being safe in the knowledge you’re doing your small bit to help the environment will help you enjoy your smooth rail journey all the more. That’s you, that is.
It’s a good chance to catch up on a bit of culture
An hour or two on a train means uninterrupted me-time. Yes, you could get on with some work if you must … but unless it’s REALLY urgent (or your boss is sitting next to you) your journey is an ideal – and guilt-free – chance to indulge yourself with your Netflix guilty pleasure, your favourite box set, or, if you’re determinedly old-school, an actual book. And, if you should find yourself without a screen or a novel, you can even catch up on some sleep. God knows you deserve a nap.
The view
Britain is a beautiful place. It is also a remarkably empty place. And never does this become more apparent than once you leave the big cities and gaze out of a train window as the country speeds by. From the gentle rolling hills and pretty villages of the Chilterns to the wide vistas of the south-west, and from the rugged beauty of the Peaks and Lakes to the breathtaking mountains of Wales and Scotland, we live in a country of mostly open spaces … and mostly extraordinarily lovely spaces too. Sit back, stick Jerusalem on your Spotify, and drink it all in.
Stations tend to deliver you right into the centre of town
Meaning that when you arrive, the chances are you’re going to be pretty close to where you need to be. This tends not to be the case with airports, which are often well outside of town. Likewise, there are no worries over finding somewhere to park – or paying the parking charges. The train pulls in, you get off, you’re in the city centre. Easy.
Anyone can do it
No matter the length of your train journey, the actual business of catching one is simple – just turn up to the right platform at the right time. No allowing two hours before departure to get through check-in and security, no factoring in an extra chunk of time in case of roadworks and rush hour … if you’ve got the nerve you can get to the station mere minutes before your train leaves – and (most of the time, at least) your timetable lets you know exactly what time you’ll be getting off it again at the other end.
Railcards make it even cheaper
Cheap train travel is not just for students and OAPs, you know. Sure, there’s the 16-25 Railcard (what we used to call the Young Person’s Railcard), giving gen Z-ers a third off travel, but millennials get the same deal with a 26-30 Railcard. Then there’s the Family & Friends Railcard, the Disabled Persons Railcard, the Senior Railcard, the Network Railcard, for those in the south-east, and the Two Together card – the long and short of it all being if you’re paying full whack, you’re doing something wrong.
It’s literally the safest way to travel
According to the most recent statistics from the Department for Transport, you are more at risk using any other form of transport than train. Their data shows an average of 1.6 people per billion passenger kilometres are killed in cars in this country each year, compared with a whopping 83 on motorcycles, and 24 on bicycles. Meanwhile, 0.1 are killed on aeroplanes, 0.2 on buses and coaches … And on trains? Zero.
The romance of rail
OK, so the age of steam may be over where most train journeys are concerned, but there is still something undeniably romantic about rail travel. Perhaps it’s the history and heritage of it, the evocations of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and our engineering excellence; maybe it’s the magnificent architecture behind some of our most famous stations, bridges and viaducts … but somewhere inside everyone there’s still that little kid, unable to resist waving when a train goes by. Let’s be honest: nobody stands on bridges and waves at the cars on the M1.
Trains are remarkably comfortable
Outside of peak commuter services, travelling by train means nice wide seats, ample legroom, and power points for your tablet or laptop – and if you can afford to upgrade, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get a double seat and a free cup of tea. That has to beat stressing out on the middle lane of the M40 in your family hatchback, right?
To find out more about getting a third off your train travel with a railcard, visit railcard.co.uk
