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Greener than flying

Greener commuting with Ve’lib - Paris 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:  


The Tread Lightly to Paris
A long weekend in PARIS?

6.6kg CO2 per passenger: Return travel by Eurostar from St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord.
102.8kg CO2 per passenger: Return flight from London Luton to Paris Charles de Gaulle.

The Tread Lightly to Brussels
Business trip to BRUSSELS?

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

The Tread Lightly to the French Alps
Winter skiing in the FRENCH ALPS?

14kg CO2 per passenger: Return travel by Eurostar from St Pancras International to Bourg-St-Maurice.
147.8kg CO2 per passenger: Return flight from London Stansted to Geneva.

The Tread Lightly to the south of France
Summer holiday in the SOUTH OF FRANCE?

13kg CO2 per passenger: Return travel by Eurostar from St Pancras International to Avignon.
197.2kg CO2 per passenger: Return flight from London Heathrow to Marseilles.

The Tread Lightly to Disneyland Resort Paris
Taking the kids to DISNEYLAND?

5.8kg CO2 per passenger: Return travel by Eurostar from St Pancras International to Disneyland® Resort Paris.
102.8kg CO2 per passenger: Return flight from London Luton to Paris Charles de Gaulle.

 

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.

The future of travel is here
Eurostar has also committed to generating even less CO2 per traveller in future. In fact, as part of Tread Lightly we’re committed to reducing CO2 per traveller journey by 35% by the year 2012 compared to 2007.

You can read the full Executive Summary from the Watkiss study here.

 
 
 

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



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Quotes

"Doing nothing is not an option. What Eurostar is doing is a plan for the future."
Stuart Rose, Chief Executive, Marks & Spencer
 
"Eurostar is leading the way by making a real reduction."
Tony Juniper, Executive Director, Friends of the Earth
 
"Eurostar have set a transport industry benchmark."
Stephen Joseph, Executive Director, Transport 2000