Last week’s post about Travel and Leisure’s top ten scenic train rides espoused the lower environmental impact of rail travel along with being able to experience the inherent beauty of earth’s natural vistas. In this case, the environmental angle only represents a minor portion of the equation. Train travel is arguably more relaxing than going through the security maze associated with air travel.

The environment still fails to register high on people’s list of priorities. For this reason, ecological concerns must also connect to other issues. Today, the greatest example may be the economic incentives of being eco-conscious. Recent posts (including this one) have delved into energy saving features and gadgets. In Spain, high-speed rail has included a third component (along with environmental and potential economic benefits of rail travel), time savings. According to The New York Times, “the number of train travelers on the route [between Madrid and Barcelona] surpassed fliers.” The train line opened two years ago and has demonstrated increasing ridership ever since. The train ride between the two cities clocks in at just over two and a half hours. While the flight is shorter, about half the time of the train, the addition of security measures, requirements of arriving early, potentially waiting for luggage, and traveling to and from the city centers all figure into the equation.

The Times goes on to state that there has also been a political benefit to the country. Spain, like “other European Union countries . . . set out to lower . . . carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent over the next 10 years. Emissions per passenger on a high-speed train are about one-fourth of those generated by flying or driving.” The Times points out that many of those riding the train do not take environmental concerns into consideration. “Like high-speed railways in France and China, Renfe — Spain’s national train operator — has performed the ultimate green sleight of hand by simply making the low-emissions option more comfortable and convenient.” If so-called green initiatives are to take hold, they must confer greater benefits than their counterparts. In the case of train travel, speed, comfort, and cost make this eco-conscious choice an easy decision.

- Eric Wilson

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