by Richard Hammond
Update: I travelled on the Climate Train on Saturday 30 October and have produced this short video about the youth activists on board the train who were determined to hold the politicians to account at COP:
Previously:
Eurostar has announced it will be running a special service from Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Brussels to Glasgow via London for delegates to travel to COP26.
The 'Climate Train' Eurostar service will depart Amsterdam Central on 30th October travelling to London St. Pancras International via Brussels-Midi. From here passengers will travel to London Euston to board an Avanti West Coast service to Glasgow Central.
The initiative is a partnership between ProRail, Eurostar, NS, Avanti West Coast and Youth for Sustainable Travel. In 2019, young people from Youth for Sustainable Travel organised a sailing trip to the Climate Summit in Chile. After the summit was moved to Madrid, they called on other young people in Europe to visit the climate summit by train. This initiative, called 'Sail to the COP', is now followed up with 'Rail to the COP'.
Eurostar says that 'Rail to the COP' will bring together "as diverse a group as possible from all over Europe".
Frans Timmermans, European Commissioner, said: "What could be nicer than travelling by train to an international climate summit? The train is sustainable and provides a lot of comfort, whether you travel for work or pleasure. More and more passengers in Europe are recognising the advantages of travelling by rail. We want to increase this number in the coming years by, for example, doubling the amount of high-speed train traffic and making international rail travel even easier. I am really looking forward to leaving for Glasgow by train with our delegation."
During the trip, Youth for Sustainable Travel and the rail partners will organise a series of debates and seminars to draw attention to the important role that rail and sustainable travel can play in achieving the global Climate Change Goals.
Green Traveller's Guide to How to travel to COP26 by public transport
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