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Concerns about the environmentt will make short haul flying
'socially unacceptable' for many people in the near
future, a poll for Eurostar shows.
More than a third (37%) 'agree or strongly agree'
that, in a few years’ time, environmental concerns will rule
out short flights where there is an alternative of going by
train.
The independent YouGov survey of 2,246 people
shows that more than half the UK public (57%) is concerned
about environmental impact when planning a journey of 300–400
miles.
One-third (33%) say environmental concerns about a short-haul
journey are more or much more important to them than a year
ago - compared to just 3% who say environmental concerns are
less or much less important than before.
One in 20 (5%) say that, over the next year or so, environmental
concerns mean they plan to switch from flights to trains for
journeys within the UK or to closer European destinations.
The survey results were unveiled as Eurostar reported
a 21.3% rise in passengers to 2.17 million in the first quarter
over the same period in 2007. Revenues were up by 25.2% to
£178.4 million during the first full three-month period of
journeys on High Speed 1 - the new 186 mph line between
St Pancras International and the Channel Tunnel.
Eurostar said it achieved record punctuality of 93.6%
of trains on time or within 15 minutes of schedule. The company
said the on-time performance compared with an average of 68%
during 2007 for airlines competing on its routes.
The number of travellers using Eurostar for high-speed journeys
to mainland Europe from the regions has gone up since the
introduction - last November - of through fares from 68 towns
and cities.
The number of travellers from East Midlands and Yorkshire
more than doubled, compared with a year earlier. Demand
from counties north of London, the West Midlands, Greater
Manchester and Scotland all increased 'very significantly'.
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