Train trip to Portugal showcases the climate benefits of better international rail links

7 September 2026

To demonstrate what better international rail connectivity could achieve, Campaign for Better Transport’s Head of Campaigns and External Affairs, Michael Solomon Williams, is travelling from London to Portugal by train to attend the University Archives and Research Institutions Section of the International Council on Archives (ICA-SUV 2026) Conference in Coimbra on Wednesday 9 September.

Michael Solomon Williams, Head of Campaigns and External Affairs at Campaign for Better Transport, said:
“With the effects of the climate emergency being felt around the world, we need to make low-carbon train travel the easy choice. That’s why we’re travelling to Coimbra by train rather than plane, demonstrating that international rail can play a vital role in reducing emissions from transport while showcasing our campaigning impact to an international audience of sustainability experts.

“With momentum growing behind international rail, the Government now needs a dedicated International Rail Strategy to turn that potential into reality, supporting new routes, making journeys easier to book and helping more people travel sustainably between the UK and Europe.”

Campaign for Better Transport research shows there are around 17 million annual plane journeys between London and destinations in mainland Europe that could potentially be made by rail instead. With just 11 million passenger journeys a year made through the Channel Tunnel currently, improved services and connectivity could see that figure rise to 29 million a year by 2040, creating a popular alternative to short-haul flights.

To demonstrate both the opportunities and challenges facing international rail travellers, Michael Solomon Williams will travel from London to Coimbra in Portugal entirely by train, passing through France and Spain. The journey will showcase how rail can already connect major European cities, offering a viable alternative to flying, while highlighting the need for better international connectivity from the UK to make it easier for people to reach more European destinations by train.

Gareth Williams, General Secretary and Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer at Eurostar, said:
“Last year, Eurostar carried 20 million passengers across our network, demonstrating the strong demand for international rail and the appetite to travel further across Europe by train. We have an ambition to grow that to 30 million customers a year, and expanding international rail connectivity will be key to unlocking that growth and giving more people the choice to travel by train.

“Eurostar is investing to help drive this growth, with a €2 billion order for up to 50 new double-decker Eurostar Celestia trains and plans to introduce direct services from London to Geneva and Frankfurt. But realising the full potential of international rail will require continued investment in infrastructure and connectivity, providing space for all interested operators to invest, grow, and compete. This will help make rail an increasingly compelling travel option and strengthen the links between the UK and Europe.”

Didier Cazelles, Deputy CEO of Eurotunnel, said:
“This journey, made entirely by rail from London to Portugal, demonstrates how lower-carbon rail travel can connect people across Europe, while highlighting the attractiveness and potential of international rail. Since 1994, the Channel Tunnel has made it possible for millions of passengers to travel quickly and conveniently from London to key European cities such as Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam by high-speed rail. We are pleased to see initiatives that showcase the role rail can play in connecting people across Europe and supporting more sustainable travel choices.”

Michael will be joined at the ICA-SUV 2026 Conference by Kait Buchbaum from the National Railway Museum where they will present Campaign for Better Transport’s 50-year campaign archive to delegates.

Kait Buchbaum, Archive Cataloguer at National Railway Museum, said:
“Cataloguing and promoting the Campaign for Better Transport archive has led new audiences to engage with historic transport advocacy materials. We are inspired by this fresh use of archival material to inspire and support Campaign for Better Transport’s international rail campaign. I am delighted to co-author a paper at the ICA-SUV CAST Conference 2026 explaining how we collaborated to help people interact with the collection.”

ENDS

For further information please contact the press office on 07984 773 468 (calls only no texts) or communications@bettertransport.org.uk.

Notes to Editors

Michael Solomon Williams, Head of Campaigns and External Affairs at Campaign for Better Transport, will travel from London to Coimbra in Portugal on Monday 7, Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 September exclusively by train. For journey details, contact the press office.

YouGov polling commissioned by T&E UK and Clean Cities, published September 3, 2026, found that three times more Brits support reopening international rail stations than expanding airports.

The UK currently has direct rail links with five European cities: Paris, Lille, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. A direct outbound only Antwerp service is due to start in December 2026.

Both Virgin Trains and Trenitalia have been granted permission to start running UK-Europe services. Virgin Trains plans to run up to 20 daily return services between London and Paris, London and Brussels, and London and Amsterdam from 2030. Trenitailia plans to run up to 10 daily return services between London and Paris from 2029.

Campaign for Better Transport research identified that there are currently 17 million annual plane journeys between London and cities in mainland Europe that have a comparable journey time (once airport travel time and check in is added to the flight time) to the equivalent rail trip (see Map 1, page 9)

Campaign for Better Transport’s Runways to Railways: Unlocking the potential of the Channel Tunnel found that with improved services and connectivity, by 2040, 29 million journeys a year could be being made through the Channel Tunnel.

Short-haul flights (in business class) produce 17 times more carbon emissions per passenger than international rail. Source: Runways to Railways: Unlocking the potential of the Channel Tunnel.

The Campaign for Better Transport archive is held at the National Railway Museum in York, a free museum that holds the largest collection of railway objects in the world. The archive, which spans the charity’s 50-year history, includes campaign materials, research data, booklets, photographs of demonstrations, press releases and more, with selected items available digitally on the National Railway Museum’s website. The archive was made possible by a grant from the Foundation for Integrated Transport in memory of Simon Norton.

The ICA-SUV 2026 Conference will explore how archives can document, interpret and respond to environmental challenges through university and research collections. The three-day programme will feature keynote speakers, thematic sessions, lightning talks, poster presentations and archive visits.

The train tickets for this trip have been provided by Eurostar and Eurotunnel.

Campaign for Better Transport operates in England and Wales. Campaign for Better Transport’s vision is for all communities to have access to high-quality, sustainable transport that meets their needs, improves quality of life, reduces inequality, and supports a vibrant, productive and decarbonised economy. Campaign for Better Transport Charitable Trust is a registered charity (1101929).