It’s no secret that we are in the midst of a climate emergency. While there is a general understanding that much of the damage being caused is the result of the actions of billionaires and large corporations, this doesn’t mean we, as individuals (and as smaller businesses), are powerless.

From our energy use to eating habits and the way we choose to travel, there are steps we can take to take ownership of our decisions and lead by example. At Dear Green, our commitment to coffee, community, and climate means that every action is carefully considered. Over time we will grow, and develop as a sustainable, climate-friendly organisation.

Our Climate Commitment 

We have already made significant strides towards this goal with our Net Zero 2030 pledge, B Corp status, and ongoing review of our practices. We've implemented sustainable waste management, cycle couriers for coffee deliveries, and biodegradable packaging. As part of our travel policy, we champion active or public transportation for travel to work. We have an electric vehicle and refuse air travel for journeys within the UK. 

When the opportunity to brew coffee at Host Milano and La Marzocco’s Out Of The Box came up (some 1,500 km or so away in Italy, we might add), we asked whether there was a more climate-friendly option for travelling there. After all, flying might be the default for many of us, but the reality is, it’s not the only option. In this case, the option we settled on was the train! 

Excited by the potential for this idea, we quickly confirmed our attendance, booked our trains, packed our coffee, and before we knew it, we were on our way! 

The Train Journey from Glasgow to Milan

Logistics

Travelling from Glasgow to Milan via train is a significantly longer journey than by plane, so when evaluating the option, we compared the time investment, financial costs, and carbon emissions of travelling by air versus by train.

Time

For this journey, the total train time worked out to be 14.5 hours:

By train leg 1:Train from Glasgow to London, 4.5 hours

Leg 2: Train from London to Paris, 2.5 hours*

Leg 3: Train from Paris to Milan, 7 hours

*There was a roughly 30-minute changeover in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon.

To travel from Glasgow to Milan by plane, there are two options: either fly direct to Milan Malpensa Airport, which adds about 1 hour to your journey to the City, or fly to London and then onwards to Milano Linate. The latter requires about 30 minutes additional travel time to the City.

Plane option 1: FlyGlasgow to Malpensa, 2.5 Hours + 1 Hour additional time

Plane option 2: FlyGlasgow to London, London to Linate, 3.5 Hours + 0.5 hour additional time

As you might expect, both options are significantly quicker than travelling via train.

Investment

Time is an essential factor for many travellers, but what about cost? Here’s a breakdown of expenses:

Train from Glasgow to London: £34.40

Train from London to Paris: £98

Train Paris to Milan: £39.27

Total cost to travel from Glasgow to Milan by train: £171.67

Compared to air travel, we actually don’t see too much of a difference, depending on how you fly and whether you take luggage.

A Skyscanner search for flights, both direct and indirect, from Glasgow to Milan shows the cheapest flights in the £30-£40 range, with a caveat: the total journey time is a whopping 27 hours. A reasonable travel time of 5 hours starts at £115 and includes one small bag; additional baggage starts at £30, bringing the total to £145. In this instance, it is £ 26.67 cheaper than the train journey.

Prices will, of course, vary for both trains and flights, depending on how early you book and the time of year you travel. On top of this, there may be additional airport transfer time and cost, an example being the Milan Malpensa express train at €26 for a return ticket.

It’s also worth noting that it’s becoming increasingly common for cheaper flights to charge extra for larger, or checked-in bags, cancelling out much of the savings you might make by travelling this way. 

Carbon Emissions

At a glance, the difference between train and air travel is striking, with no doubt that train travel is the better option. To reference a BBC article, which included a graphic comparing travel options:

• We see a 98% reduction in emissions when taking the Eurostar compared to domestic flights.

• And a 75% reduction when taking regional trains compared to domestic flights

Source: BEIS/Defra Greenhouse Gas Conversion Factors 2019 via BBC

When considering our specific journey, it can be challenging to provide a clear picture of how trains compare to plane travel, especially given the numerous variables and limited access to precise data. That being said, we know enough to see that, even with fairly broad carbon footprint calculation tools, the differences are stark: 

Glasgow to Milan Train Emissions

Glasgow to Milan Flight Emissions

*87.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to flying

**Based on UK Government GHG Emissions Conversion Factors 2025.

Experience

Finally, we come to the part that’s less of an exact science - the experience. Was travelling by train actually enjoyable?

Well, one of the first things that struck us was just how efficient the Eurostar experience was. From check-in to border control, the process was incredibly smooth with minimal hassle and fuss. Compared to airport security, things are a little more relaxed, making for a much less stressful experience.

Once you’re on the train, it’s very comfortable. Staff are pleasant, you’ve got plenty of leg room, and it was even possible to go for a nap, thanks to the quiet carriage. Wifi wasn’t spectacular, but it was good enough for sending work emails, too. 

The train from Paris to Milan was also very efficient, with no issues and a similarly pleasant onboard experience; it was smooth, comfortable, and quiet, with charging ports available and helpful staff. The only snag was the food—the only vegan option was a meal for €14.80, and no snack options. Better than nothing, but a packed lunch is recommended!

What really made the journey, however, was the view from the window. The vistas that greeted us on many parts of the journey were stunning, with the French Alps alone making the trip worthwhile.

Overall, the experience was surprisingly satisfying. Taking a plane can feel like a necessary evil, but knowing we’d done our bit by taking the train, while being able to relax and watch the journey gradually unfold before our eyes, made it feel like an accomplishment. We can easily take for granted that we can almost ‘teleport’ from one destination to the other via plane, but in this case, it tangibly felt like we’d been on a journey - and isn’t that what it’s all about? 

Should you take the train?

Should you take the train instead of a plane on your next international journey? Yes - with caveats! 

Every time we have an opportunity to travel to events, we consider the significance of the trip and whether it aligns with our values of coffee, community, and climate. Developing relationships with our partners, interacting with the community, and attending two notable industry events were certainly reasons enough to travel. However, despite the value, we couldn’t justify the air miles when another, far more climate-friendly option was available.

That being said, it would be impractical to expecteveryone to take the train forevery international journey, especially for regular commutes or those travelling on a budget. We saw this as a worthwhile travel option that also set a precedent for our future international trips and broke the mould of defaulting to flights.

We encourage and implore others to travel with purpose, conscientiously, and consider first whether the trip is worth the broader environmental impact, and second, whether there is an alternative option.

Travelling by train not only makes a massive difference to you and/or your business’s environmental impact, but it’s also that much more rewarding as a means of travel.

We have the power to effect change by putting our money where it matters; let’s travel with purpose and invest in more sustainable methods of travel, such as rail, whenever possible! You might enjoy the ride!

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