Greener than flying

Eurostar emits a tenth of the CO₂ of flying to our core destinations.

Before we launched our Tread Lightly initiative in April 2007, we commissioned some detailed research to find out exactly how much CO₂ is produced on a Eurostar journey.

The bottom line was that a journey between London, Paris and Brussels by Eurostar generates just one tenth of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO₂) of flying.  





The numbers
On average, a Eurostar journey emits just one tenth of the CO₂ emissions of an equivalent flight.

Here are our vital statistics:  

Business trip to LONDON?

8.2kg CO₂ per passenger: Return travel by Eurostar from Brussels-Zuid/Midi to London St Pancras International.
140.6kg CO₂ per passenger: Return flight from Brussels Airport to London Heathrow.

Travel between PARIS and LONDON?

6,6kg CO₂ per passenger: Return travel by Eurostar from Paris Gare du Nord to London St Pancras International.
107,8kg CO₂ per passenger: Return flight from Charles de Gaulle in Paris to London Heathrow.

Examples taken from a study by Paul Watkiss Associates, research commissioned bv Eurostar.
The figures for aviation emissions are derived from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) emissions calculator and Civil Aviation Authority CAA) data, and are based on actual load factors achieved during 2007(latest available data). Eurostar’s carbon dioxide emissions are derived from analysis conducted by Paul Watkiss Associates in February 2009. They are based on actual supplier mix of electricity and actual load factors achieved during 2008 (first full year of services on High Speed 1).

Radiative Forcing Index – the non CO₂ climatic effect of aviation – has not been added to the aviation emissions calculations.

This page assured by Bureau Veritas April 2009. View our main assurance statement, including scope of work/limitations and findings.