Loco

What with all this non-flying thanks to the Icelandic volcanic (don’t panic!) big ash cloud (which ironically left London with beautifully clear skies over the weekend thanks to the lack of planes), it feels like a good time to be thinking about low carbon travel.

As this graphic from information is beautiful demonstrates, the carbon saving from all the grounded planes is huge. Obviously the hassle for all the stranded thousands cannot be fun, but it also gives us the perspective to consider what an alternative to our current carbon-hungry travel infrastructure might look like.

For journeys within Europe, the development over the past few years of a sophisticated high-speed rail network means that alternatives to short-haul flights are becoming increasingly convenient (although admittedly they aren’t anywhere near as cheap as they need to be).

But as soon as we want to go beyond Europe, suddenly the alternatives to flying become a challenge at best. As pioneering low carbon traveller and founder of Loco2, Kate, has shown, it is possible to cross the Atlantic on a cargo-ship. But with only a few cabins in each ship, and the carbon-savings difficult to quantify, this doesn’t seem like the long-term alternative that the world really needs.

Earlier this month saw the launch of the world’s first solar-powered boat. Whilst the Türanor (its epic name inspired by the Lord of the Rings) will not be ferrying thousands of people around the world any time soon, it’s a definite moment in the development of low carbon travel. Alongside a new solar-powered plane taking its first flight this month, and numerous concepts for zero-emission airships, there are lots of things to get excited about as we imagine a low emission travel future.

The challenge we now face is turning these visions into a reality. At Loco2 we’re beginning by focusing on making overland train trips in Europe easier to plan and book. This is what we’ll be keeping in mind as we further develop our journey planning tool over the coming months.

Thanks to the ash cloud, lots of people will be travelling by low carbon means when otherwise they’d be confined to a plane. This time round it’s unlikely to be the most enjoyable of experiences as the stress of disruption takes its hold. But as nature takes its course and reminds us how little control we really have over our environment, it’s good to take a moment and think about how different the world could be.

Thumbnail photo credit: PSD

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6 responses to “Time for a new direction in travel”

1. Lucie says:
   April 19th, 2010 at 3:08 pm

   I completely agree. Although I am in no way affected by being unable to travel (stuck, as I am, in bed with tonsillitis) I have been urging those around me to display a little more humility about the whole situation. It’s a wonderful opportunity! James Naughtie did a lovely little feature on Saturday night about how tranquil south-west London now is, and Alain de Botton’s piece about a world without aeroplanes was sublime. It would be available here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8626000/8626806.stm -but apparently it is not currently working. Hopefully it will soon!

2. Jamie says:
   April 19th, 2010 at 3:16 pm

   Hi Lucie, thanks for your comment.

   The Alain de Botton piece is available written here:

   http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8626000/8626927.stm

   (that’s the last link in the blog piece) I’d like to hear him speaking it too though

3. Just an Observer says:
   April 19th, 2010 at 3:34 pm

   Solar Powered Aircraft.

   For anything solar, there has to be sunlight.

   Good luck getting any sunlight through an ash clouds…

   We also have had hardly any sunlight since 2004. Gardens dont even get enough sunlight and end up just growing mold…

   Power from the sun to propell jet aircraft and ships ? More wasted tax dollars for feelgood crapola.

4. N.T.L says:
   April 19th, 2010 at 4:01 pm

   A lot of tourist choose ship, car, or train (someone bought a car) to back your home.
   I think that would be an exciting (may be?).

5. Jamie says:
   April 20th, 2010 at 4:47 pm

   Update: Looks like the volcano isn’t saving quite as much CO2 as we’d hoped: http://ow.ly/1AD1F still way better than all the flights though

6. EcoHustler says:
   April 21st, 2010 at 1:13 pm

   Join the 45 Metre Underground Club

   The mile high club is for irresponsible yuppies. The cool kids are getting down and dirty 45m below sea level. A secret and fruity underground society has been spicing up European travel with sexy visits to the water closet while hurtling under the channel tunnel. Is our fast track to the world’s most romantic city fast becoming a giant Tunnel of Love?

   http://ecohustler.co.uk/2010/01/31/the-45-metre-underground-club/