After years of disruption due to the pandemic, demand for train travel is on the rise.
Travel to Europe accounts for the majority of Brits' trips, and many travelers want an alternative to short-haul flights.
Traveling by train offers many benefits, and this trend is borne out by recent figures from the Railway Industry Association,
which expects the number of rail passengers to double by 2050
.
The environmental impact of the aviation industry is well known, and sustainable travel is increasingly a priority for many leisure and business travelers.
In response, governments and the private sector can play a major role by prioritizing and investing in sustainable alternatives to short-haul flights, which will result in greater economic and environmental benefits.
HS1, the UK's first and, to date, only high-speed rail line between St Pancras International in London and the Channel Tunnel, reliably and sustainably connects British travelers to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, and new routes are planned in the future.
The high-speed line runs on electricity, 40% of which comes from guaranteed renewable sources, and the line's trains account for just 10% of the carbon emissions it would take to transport the same number of people by plane.
With France recently putting the brakes on short-haul domestic flights on routes that can be covered by train in less than two and a half hours, other European countries could follow suit.
High-speed rail is increasingly emerging as the future of travel.
Reducing emissions isn't the only benefit.
High-speed trains allow travelers to reach the continent in an optimal way, offering them the possibility of traveling directly from one city to another, removing a number of stages in their journey and making it easier for business travelers to potentially work along the route.
High-speed rail: the future of international travel iStock-1446428055
Thanks to a new generation of border gates and controls carried out in a single station, traveling on the HS1 line is very simple.
St Pancras International can now process up to 2,000 passengers per hour at its border control, significantly reducing waiting times.
The introduction of the new European Entry and Exit System poses significant challenges for all international travel operators in the UK, but HS1 is working closely with its partners and governments to minimize the impact on the experience passengers.
According to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the HS1 line has a proven track record of reliability, with 99.7% of services arriving on time, compared to an industry average of 69.2%.
In addition, it brings economic benefits worth £427 million to the UK and Europe each year.
Currently the line is operating at around 50% capacity, demonstrating the potential, with new and existing operators, for increased growth and the benefits that come with it.
Building on the UK's incredible railway heritage, a key aim now is to unlock the full economic and environmental potential of the HS1 line, providing UK and international travelers with even more opportunities to travel in peacefully and sustainably, while protecting the planet for future generations.
For more information, visit
highspeed1.co.uk