RAIL AT THE COP

After greeting 500 other activists, a few politicians and railway managers on 30th October off the “Rail to the the COP” first leg on Eurostar at London St Pancras, our roving reporter Ian McDonald then guided them to their special Avanti West Coast train at London Euston for the 2nd leg of their journey. He then went onto Glasgow a week later for the Transport Day of debate and action on 10 November. While he was there you can see that he took the opportunity to promote our campaign. Most people he spoke to agreed that investment in railways rather than battery powered cars is far more effective in combating climate change.

RAIL TO THE COP – CLIMATE TRAIN CONTINUES ONTO GLASGOW

On Saturday 30th October our Ian McDonald went to meet and greet the 500 or so politicians, journalists, lobbyists, railway employees and climate activists who arrived on the specially chartered Eurostar train. Staff from Network Rail, Eurostar, and Avanti West Coast were there to greet them. Many others were waiting at St Pancras International to make sure they received a warm welcome to the UK. They were then escorted in small groups on foot to Euston station about 10 minutes walk away. While chatting to various people Ian noted that apart from Belgium, Netherlands and Germany there were people who had come by train from as far afield as Italy and Denmark. Avanti West Coast then pulled out all the

RAIL TO THE COP – CLIMATE TRAIN ARRIVES IN LONDON

WHEN At 11.57 on Saturday 30th October a specially chartered Eurostar train will arrive at London St Pancras. WHO Franz Timmermans(EU Commission Vice President), delegates, journalists, lobbyists and climate activists from Europe having arrived on the Eurostar will then be passing through London. They will continue their rail journey on a connecting Avanti West Coast service to Glasgow from London. They will be going to the crucial United Nations COP 26 Climate conference. Franz Timmermans is responsible for implementing the EU Green Deal and the EU Climate Law. BUT They will have a problem making their connection between the 2 stations. WHY Because it is not very seamless because our only high speed rail link to Europe is not very

THIS “GREEN” GOVERNMENT’S RAIL POLICY IS A TRAIN WRECK

This was the title of the headline letter we had published in The New European on the 12th August which you can read in full below : – We were very pleased to read Tom Chesshyre’s feature in TNE 254. This provided a critical evaluation of the measures the EU is taking to encourage greater use of the European Rail Network as a low carbon alternative to air travel. It is now quite clear that we face a climate emergency, as evidenced by the sheer number of “record-breaking” fires & floods all over the world. As part of the EU New Green Deal there now seems to be a clear political and financial commitment to improve cross-border long-distance day and

LAUNCH OF RAIL TO COP 26

The Climate Train to the COP 26 Climate Conference in Glasgow has been confirmed for Saturday 30th October. This train has been organised by “Youth for Sustainable Travel” with the support of Eurostar, Netherlands Railways, Avanti West Coast and Prorail the Dutch Rail Infrastructure company. A group of climate activists & others will be taking this special Eurostar train from Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Brussels arriving in London at around Midday on Saturday 30th October . They will take the short walk from St Pancras across to Euston to continue onto Glasgow using selected Avanti West Coast services. For further information go to: https://railtothecop.com/apply Rail to the Cop will be promoting the role of sustainable travel in tackling climate change as well as

May 2021

RAIL TO THE COP : On the 1st May Youth for Sustainable Travel (YfST)launched their campaign for sustainable travel to the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow to be held from 1st – 12th November 2021. YfST is a group of young climate activists and experts registered in the Netherlands. For further information click here: https://railtothecop.com/ EUROSTAR’S FUTURE SECURE FOR NOW : On the 18th May Eurostar announced they had agreed to inject a further £250 million into the business with their shareholders and bankers. Now that travel restrictions are slightly relaxed , Eurostar hope to run two daily services on the London to Paris route from the 27th May. For further information click here: Eurostar secures £250m financing agreement with