Media Centre

Free rail travel offer from National Express targets air passengers

25 Apr 2008

Air passengers between London and Scotland’s two major cities are being targeted in a bold new offer from train operator National Express East Coast – giving them the chance to try the train instead, for free.

The offer is aimed at any air passenger who flew either way between either Edinburgh or Glasgow and the London airports from 24 March, as well as those who choose to fly on the same routes until 31 May.

In exchange for a valid flight boarding card or airline e-Ticket with the correct travel dates and journey details, National Express East Coast will supply a free First Class return travel voucher, valid for travel until 30 July 2008.

Rachel Dawson, sales and marketing director at National Express East Coast, said: “The recent chaos at Heathrow Airport’s controversial Terminal Five led to dozens of cancelled flights between both Edinburgh and Glasgow airports and London, while awareness of the environmental damage caused by short-haul flights continues to grow.

“In contrast, our train passengers enjoy city centre-to-centre travel in comfort with free wireless internet access throughout, a full restaurant service on many weekday trains, and of course great views along the way, including the Northumberland Coast, Angel of the North and the cathedral cities of Durham and York.

“National Express is taking this positive opportunity to attract more passengers to try our high speed rail services on the East Coast Main Line. We’re sure that once air travellers see how much easier, more comfortable and convenient the train is, even more of them will make the switch from the plane to the train”.

News of the offer to air passengers is being welcomed as a positive step to reduce the damage to the environment caused by short-haul flights. Paul Tetlaw, Chair of sustainable transport campaign group Transform Scotland, said: “Air travel is the fastest growing source of climate emissions. There are around 100 short-haul flights a day from central Scotland airports to London, and these generate unacceptable levels of pollution.

“National Express is taking this positive opportunity to attract more passengers to try our high speed rail services on the East Coast Main Line. We’re sure that once air travellers see how much easier, more comfortable and convenient the train is, even more of them will make the switch from the plane to the train”.

News of the offer to air passengers is being welcomed as a positive step to reduce the damage to the environment caused by short-haul flights. Paul Tetlaw, Chair of sustainable transport campaign group Transform Scotland, said: “Air travel is the fastest growing source of climate emissions. There are around 100 short-haul flights a day from central Scotland airports to London, and these generate unacceptable levels of pollution.

“If Scotland is to take genuine steps to tackle climate change, then it is imperative that people choose rail over air for trips between central Scotland and London”.

Ten thousand free tickets are being made available by National Express East Coast for this offer. To take advantage, passengers travelling between Edinburgh or Glasgow airports and London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, London Luton and London City should complete these simple steps:

• Visit a special page on the National Express website at www.nationalexpress.com/whyfly and complete basic details about their journey.
• Print a page from the website as directed and submit it with a valid boarding card/e-Ticket to the address shown.
• A free return First Class travel voucher, valid on nominated train services, will be supplied in response to valid applications within fourteen days. Seat reservations are compulsory with this offer and can be made via our Telesales line on 0845 46 46 37. Both the travel voucher and seat reservation coupon must be shown together on board trains to form a valid ticket.
• Terms and conditions applying to the offer are displayed on the special page at www.nationalexpress.com/whyfly.

Transform Scotland chair Paul Tetlaw added: “Passengers taking the train will not only be doing their bit to help reduce emissions, but they’ll also have a more productive journey. Who wants to stand in queues in airport terminals, or suffer endless security checks, when you can just walk straight on to a train in Edinburgh or Glasgow and get off in central London”.

Advance returns, booked online, between Glasgow or Edinburgh and London with National Express East Coast start from £28 Standard Class or £79 First Class. Fastest train journey time between Edinburgh and London is 4 hours 20 minutes, offering direct city centre-to-centre travel and free wi-fi throughout.

Choosing the train over the plane is also a great way to care for the environment. A return journey by air from Edinburgh to London produces 370kgs of CO2 emissions, compared with just 77kgs by train (source: environmental consultancy website co2balance.com).

Full details of train times and on-board services are available at the National Express website:
www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com.

ENDS.