Green Travel

Are you also excited that it is possible to travel abroad again now Covid-19 restrictions are being relaxed? During the covid-19 pandemic, there was much less CO2 pollution, and the air quality was improved a great deal. Future travel plans will no doubt have an impact on this improvement, so it would be wonderful if we could preserve this improved air quality as much as possible. 

Let’s make an effort together!  

Did you know that many EU destinations can be reached by bus or train, saving lots of CO2 that you would have been responsible for emitting if you had travelled by plane?

TU Delft would like to invite you to consider your travel options and encourage you to take a train or a bus to your destination. To travel green is to make a simple choice to lessen your negative impact on the environment, on a given destination and its local people. Individually you can make that change today to make a big difference tomorrow. Let’s make an effort together!  

The European Commission’s programme Erasmus+ which supports students wishing to study abroad also sees the importance of Green Travel. Erasmus + wants it participants to leave a positive impact and the smallest ecological footprint possible. They are introducing funding in the form of a ‘top up’ grant to students that travel sustainably within the Erasmus + programme. For more grant information please visit our Erasmus + Study or Internship pages. If you are looking for inspiration and ideas, Erasmus + published their own E-zine 'Go Green' it’s definitely worth a read.

Click on the Infographic below. It provides an indication of the travel times to some popular destinations in Europe and will help you decide if the train or bus is an option in your situation! 

Disclaimer: infographic was created in June 2021 and was correct at time of publication.

More detailed and up to date information can be found on the following websites: Wat is je CO2-voetafdruk? | Milieu Centraal and http://ecopassenger.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en?L=vs_uic&

• Sustainability: less CO₂ consumption, less noise, a more energy efficient way of travelling.  
• Discover Europe: plan extra stops and see more of Europe than just Delft, your destination, and the sky. Turn your journey into a vacation and meet different people from diverse cultural backgrounds on the way. Let the adventure start at your doorstep!  
• The Experience: enjoy slow travelling or take a night train. You can easily use the time on board to read, sleep, watch a movie and engage with fellow travellers.  
• Budgetwise: travelling by train or bus can be cheaper than by air, for example to cities like Berlin, Paris or Warsaw.  
• Luggage Flexibility: less luggage restrictions apply to a bus or train; you could even take your bike on the train too.  

Are you thinking of taking the train? Here are some tips if you are considering this option. Check out the Experience stories here from students who took the train instead of flying! 

• Did you know that popular destinations such as Paris and London can often be reached inexpensively by train? It is certainly worthwhile checking the price of train and bus tickets for other destinations too.  
• Book your (train) ticket well in advance. With some carriers, this is possible up to 6 months in advance. For example, NS International offers more flexible options related to COVID-19 travel uncertainties. 
• Travelling by train with some friends or as a group? NS International offers a group discount.  
• Planning on travelling throughout Europe? An Interrail Pass can be a good and cheaper option for you. More information can be found on the websites below. 
• When travelling by train you are more flexible regarding the amount (and size) of luggage. You could even consider taking your bike with you!  
• Train stations tend to be more centrally located, while airports tend to be on the outskirts of cities. Arriving by plane requires extended travel times and extra costs to reach city centres. 
• No need to wait in line - just turn up and hop on board (for most trains) - no check-in, no arriving 2 hours before your train departs. 
• Travelling by train offers more leg room, Wi-Fi access and splendid views. 
• Here are some links to some useful train services  
  • https://www.nsinternational.com/ 
  • https://www.interrail.eu/ 
  • https://www.seat61.com/ 
  • https://www.raileurope.com/en-gb/discover#trains ·   
  • https://www.treinreiswinkel.nl/ 
  • https://www.omio.com/ 
  • https://www.thetrainline.com/nl 

• Planning a trip with a large group of people? Renting a bus may be a cheaper option for you. 
• You may even consider using your OV travel pass to reach the Dutch border. Check out further details here. 
• When travelling by bus, you are more flexible regarding the amount (and size) of luggage. You could even consider taking your bike with you! 
• When you book an online ticket check if you can compensate your CO2 emission for your trip. 
• The CO2 emission of a bus is lower, per traveller. A bus emits 16% of what a car emits and 12% of a plane. 
• Research all ticket options. You may want to consider travelling in the evening or weekend for cheaper alternatives! 
• Bus stations tend to be more centrally located, while airports tend to be on the outskirts of cities. Arriving by plane requires extended travel times and extra costs to reach city centres 
• No need to wait in line - just turn up and hop on board (for most buses) - no check-in, no arriving 2 hours before your bus departs. 
• Travelling by bus offers more legroom, Wi-Fi access and magnificent views. 
• Here are some links to some useful bus service websites:
  • https://www.bybusbud.com    
  • https://www.flixbus.nl/  
  • https://www.blablacar.nl/bus 
  • https://www.comparabus.nl/   
• Using a smaller four wheel vehicle could also help the environment on a smaller scale. This is only possible if you share a car, otherwise known as ‘carpooling’. It is considered by the EU Erasmus + programme to be a sustainable means of travel. Travelling with more than one person in a normal car reduces the CO2 emission for your trip and even more so with an electric or Hybrid car. Blablacar is one website that assists with carpooling.

If you do decide that the plane is the only option of reaching your destination you may want to consider these options to help the environment. 

1. Choose an airline that is fuel-efficient and is committed to reducing their emissions. 
2. Avoid first-class travel, travelling first class with more legroom provides less seats on the flight and therefore increasing the CO2 emission for your trip. 
3. Travel from an eco-conscious airport. 
4. Pack lightly. 
5. You may want to offset your carbon emissions, such as donating money or planting a tree (for example: Trees for all). 
6. Travel to the local airport or main intercontinental airport hub by bus or train, so you can book a non-stop flight from there. The main hubs in Europe (Schiphol, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, London Heathrow, Frankfurt and München ) are easy to reach by fast train connections. 

Compensate your CO2-emissions?

You can compensate your CO2 emissions by donating an amount of money to (re)foresting projects. You can find many projects online. If you think of compensating your emissions, please also look at the way the organisations deal with the needs and rights of the people living in the region. Choose for certified projects, like goldstandard.org or standfortrees.org (source: De Correspondent) or the CBF-certified treesforall.nl. If you want to make a real difference: compensate your emission in tenfold! This makes it more likely ‘your’ trees will be standing there long enough to actually compensate your netto emission. In this way, you pay for the actual costs for the climate damage you cause.

Here you can read the exciting adventures of students who decided to Travel Green for their study abroad. 

Have you done this too? Would you like to share your experience? Inspire other students to be Green? We’d love to hear from you, please email us at: contactcentre-esa@tudelft.nl 

Here are some Green Tips & Tricks to travelling green.

We feel it is important for us all to make a step (be it small) to help the world we live in today. 

If you have any other tips you would like to share, please email: contactcentre-esa@tudelft.nl