The Anonymous Widower

Virgin Reports Record Modal Shift From Planes To Trains

The title of this post is the same as that of this article on Rail News.

This paragraph sums up the shift from plane to train.

The operator said rail had a 29 per cent share of the traffic during the 12 months to July this year, and that annual passenger numbers on the route have now reached 700,000, compared with 244,000 ten years ago.

Virgin seem to say it’s all down to them, but various factors with flying are having an effect.

• Airport delays due to drones and other operational problems.
• In the case of Glasgow, the lack of a rail link to the airport, might encourage passengers to go the whole way by train.
• Improved Railcard offerings.
• Climate change awareness and guilt.
• Ryanair’s problems.
• Glaswegians taking long haul flights from Scotland and Manchester, rather than London.
• Better awareness of rail travel.

I also wonder, if Scotland’s extensive electrification and large numbers of new trains has convinced a lot more Scots to travel by train.

I should also say, that my Scottish friends seem to be using trains rather than flying more often.

Conclusion

Let’s hope that when West Coast Rail take over on December 8th, 2019, the upward trend of market share continues, as it is surely better for the planet.

November 11, 2019 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Flying, Glasgow, Global Warming/Zero-Carbon, Virgin Trains, West Coast Rail