Sustainable travel news vol. 10

Welcome to our tenth sustainable travel roundup, created in collaboration with Flight Free UK, where we will share some of the most recent updates, news, and developments shaping the future of eco-friendly travel.

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1. Glasgow trials free public transport

As of early 2026, Glasgow will become the first Scottish city to trial free public transport on trains, buses, and subways. 1,000 people will be able to test the concept over a period of six weeks to allow for insights into how free public transport might affect travel choices, access to services, and participants’ overall wellbeing.

One of the hopes of the project is that it might lower fossil fuel emissions, as free public transport might encourage citizens to leave their cars at home whenever possible.

Find out more on the Travel Tomorrow website.

2. New train route from Birmingham to the Scottish Highlands

The Caledonian Sleeper has announced that it will extend its Highlander route to call at Birmingham International station and the inaugural departure from Birmingham is scheduled for January 15th 2026. 

This new service will connect Birmingham directly with Aberdeen, Fort William, and Inverness, with journeys running five nights a week, and passengers able to book trips up to a year in advance.

Find out more on the Caledonian Sleeper website.

3. Royal Mail launches micro electric vehicle fleet

A new fleet of more than 100 micro electric vehicles (MEVs) is being rolled out by Royal Mail, in an effort to both reduce carbon emissions and boost delivery speeds. The MEVs will be rolled out in London, Bristol, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Solihull, Brighton and the Scilly Isles, just in time for the peak Christmas period. 

Replacing 52 larger vans, the MEV fleet is expected to save around 242 tonnes of carbon emissions annually and improve local air quality, while also making delivery rounds more efficient.

Find out more on the Fleet News website.

4. Rail operator Lumo proposes new cheap rail routes for UK

Rail travellers in the UK could soon see new, affordable routes connecting cities across the UK. Budget rail operator Lumo have submitted three separate applications to the Office of Rail and Road in the hopes of operating direct routes between Rochdale and London Euston, and Cardiff and York, by December 2028.

Find out more on the Independent website.

5. New sleeper train set to launch between popular European cities in 2026

A brand-new sleeper train will connect popular cities in Switzerland and Scandinavia next spring. Swiss Federal Railways has revealed that it is expanding its network with a night service connecting Basel to Copenhagen and Malmö, launching on April 15th 2026. Trains will run three times per week in each direction, year-round.

Find out more on the Independent website.

6. Luxury night bus to connect Zurich with other cities

Swiss company Twiliner has just started operating luxury night buses between Zurich and Amsterdam, via Brussels, and between Zurich and Barcelona. The buses are equipped with seats that can be fully reclined into flat beds. 

Twiliner says it is targeting travellers who are looking for an alternative to flying. In the first few months, buses will run several times a week, depending on demand. The aim is to offer daily services from next year.

Find out more on The Guardian website.

7. New luxury train route will soon link Paris with Italy’s Amalfi Coast

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, operated by Belmond, will debut its Paris-Amalfi Coast itinerary on May 4th 2026, winding along both the French and Italian Rivieras on the four-day journey. This new train route promises a slower, more elegant way to travel. Onboard hospitality will include seasonal, locally sourced dinners, plus live piano performances and signature cocktails.

Find out more on the Belmond website.

© Belmond

8. New 280km Chiltern Hills cycling route

Cycling UK has launched a new long-distance route through the Chiltern Hills. The Royal Chilterns Way is a 175-mile (280 km) circular trail that begins and ends in Reading, just 30 minutes from London by train via the Elizabeth Line or Great Western Railway from Paddington, making it easily accessible for those travelling by public transport.

The new route takes cyclists through a mix of terrain with more than 65% of the journey off-road along bridleways, forest tracks and byways.

Find out more on the Travel Tomorrow website.

9. New European sleeper train to launch next month 

A new sleeper train is set to connect travellers from Poland with four European cities for just £50. The new overnight service will offer direct rail travel from southeastern Poland to Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Munich.

Polish state rail operator PKP Intercity will launch the service on December 14th, with trains departing from Przemysl, a town in the southeast of the country, at 5:51pm local time and arriving in Munich the following morning at 10:24am, a journey time of around 16 and a half hours.

Find out more on the Independent website.

By Eveline Vouillemin ©