Sustainable travel news vol. 15
Welcome to our 15th sustainable travel roundup, created in collaboration with Flight Free UK, where we share some of the most recent updates, news, and developments shaping the future of eco-friendly travel.
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The Orient Express returns to the rails in 2027
From 2027, travellers will once again be able to travel on the Orient Express, the setting for one of the world’s most famous crime novels: Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express.
While the precise route of the new Orient Express has not yet been announced, it is expected to follow the historic Paris – Constantinople (now Istanbul) line, stopping at major European cities including Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna and Budapest. The original line was launched in 1883 and ran until 1977, though sections continued until 2009.
Find out more on the Travel Tomorrow website.
Spain launches 2,180 km cycling route through the landscapes of Don Quixote
The new Rural Bike Conecta CLM route invites cyclists to explore Castilla-La Mancha, home to one of Europe’s highest concentrations of protected natural areas.
The path weaves together historical trails, disused railway lines and existing paths. More than 3,200 signposts have been installed to help cyclists stay safe and on course, and the surface of the route has been upgraded.
Find out more on the Travel Tomorrow website.
International rail: one of Britain's most powerful growth engines
A new report, titled Fast track to growth and produced by Public First, found Eurostar contributes £2 billion to the UK economy and supports approximately 23,000 jobs across the country each year – with the figures set to surge by over 40% and 70% respectively over the next decade as international rail enters a new era of expansion.
The research is the most comprehensive assessment of international high-speed rail's contribution to the UK to date. It shows Eurostar is not simply a transport operator but a piece of national infrastructure that boosts Britain’s economy, provides high-quality, high-pay jobs and builds deep cultural ties.
Find out more on the Eurostar website.
Visitors to UK’s Exmoor National Park to receive discounts for environmental good deeds
Exmoor National Park has introduced the “Pay with Exmoor Care” scheme which rewards visitors who undertake “simple positive actions that support the care of Exmoor.”
Started on 1 July and ongoing until 30 September, the concept offers participants a 20% discount on eligible purchases at participating Exmoor National Park Centres.
To qualify, participants must complete at least one recognised “Exmoor Care” action during their visit and provide “reasonable evidence” of it (such as photos, app submissions, or social media posts) at the point of purchase.
Find out more on the Travel Tomorrow website.
New direct London to Antwerp service from December 2026
Eurostar has announced the launch of a new direct London to Antwerp service that will operate from 14 December 2026, taking travellers from the heart of the British capital to a Belgian city Lonely Planet calls the “capital of cool.”
Passengers can currently get from London St Pancras to the historic Belgian port city’s Central Station with Eurostar, but it’s via a three-and-a-half-hour journey and a change at Brussels. The new direct London–Antwerp journey will slash 20% off that trip time, taking just two hours 41 minutes.
Find out more on the Travel Tomorrow website.
9,000th electric van added to Royal Mail’s delivery fleet
The Royal Mail has further strengthened the company’s position as the UK’s largest electric delivery fleet – with the introduction of its 9,000th electric van. The news follows Royal Mail’s announcement that it is deploying its first electric cargo cycles in cities across the UK.
The company is aiming to reach net zero by 2040. Its electrification journey began in 2017 with an initial order of 100 electric vehicles and has since rapidly expanded its fleet as part of its commitment to reducing emissions. Now, nearly a third of Royal Mail’s delivery routes are zero-emission, with 44 delivery offices now fully electric.
Find out more on the Transport + Energy website.
Ramblers can enjoy 45 miles of new coastal routes
Two new sections of the King Charles III England Coast Path have opened between Kessingland and Lowestoft, as well as between Bawdsey and Aldeburgh, allowing ramblers to enjoy more than 45 miles (72.42km) of Suffolk coastline.
It means there is now a continuous coastal route along the Suffolk coast from Shotley Gate to Southwold.
Find out more on the BBC website.
New rail service links Finland and Sweden for first time in decades
A new international rail service between Finland and Sweden saw its inaugural trip on 10 August 2026, an occasion that marked the first train connection between the two Nordic nations for decades.
The service runs around the northeastern coast of the Bay of Bothnia, between Finnish Oulu and Haparanda in Sweden, a former fur and timber export hub at the mouth of the Torne River.
Find out more on the Travel Tomorrow website.
By Eveline Vouillemin ©
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