The company on a mission to make cross-border sustainable travel easy and accessible

Train Navigator was founded by Shreya Somani to encourage people to swap short-haul flights for train journeys and to "adventure with the planet in mind".

Awareness of sustainable tourism has risen significantly and, in 2024, over 80 percent of global travelers believed sustainable travel was important.

In Europe, nearly 50 % of people plan to travel more by train and less by plane over the next five years and 67 % of Europeans support banning short-haul flights when high-speed train alternatives are available.

Some of the key barriers often cited for flight free travel include access to information, availability, and pricing. This is where Train Navigator plans to step in to address some of these issues by simplifying sustainable travel options, clarifying costs, and spotlighting carbon savings.

We spoke to Somani ahead of the official launch of her new platform to find out more about her thoughts on flight free travel, her ambitions for Train Navigator and her most memorable travel experiences.

When did you first become conscious of the flight free travel movement and what inspired you to start Train Navigator?

About seven years ago, while commuting by train in the Netherlands, I saw a striking poster showing that flying from Amsterdam to London emits ~90% more CO₂ than taking the train!

I was baffled by the difference. I knew flying was worse, but I had never really known exactly how much worse. This sparked my interest in the subject, leading me to eventually work in the energy sector and take small daily steps to reduce my own carbon footprint.

While trying to travel more sustainably, I found that flying was far easier to plan than taking the train. Flights had transparent pricing, better search tools to find good (and cheap) deals, and clear destination options. Trains didn’t.

So, I decided to do my part and start Train Navigator to make train travel as easy and inspiring as possible, to help people discover unique adventure destinations, based on their preferences, that are accessible by public transportation. For example: Where can I travel to from London to go hiking in under 4 hours with no more than 1 transfer? Or where can I go skiing with no more than 2 transfers?

My goal is simple: Make low-carbon journeys as easy and enticing as possible, so that exploration and protecting nature always go hand in hand.

Are you collaborating with anyone on this project?

I am mostly working by myself at the moment but I do have a very passionate developer who is supporting me to make the vision come alive. Eventually, I hope to collaborate with more people and various railway operators to encourage more people to make the train their default option.

What are your long-term goals with Train Navigator?

Train Navigator is live for Amsterdam, London, Brussels, and Rotterdam. It will focus on hiking, winter sports, water sports, and beach escapes.

In the long term, I aim to expand to most major European cities and broaden the range of activities to include cycling, mountain biking, horse riding, and more - making cross-border sustainable travel easier, more accessible, and more inspiring.

I also plan to integrate smart tools to uncover the best prices, so that for short distances, taking the train becomes the natural first choice over flying.

What are some of the key benefits, both environmentally and personally, of committing to flight free travel?

Personally, flight free travel brings a lot of advantages: you can travel directly from city centre to city centre which reduces the hassle of arranging airport transfers. There are no baggage restrictions, no long security lines, and no waiting around to collect your baggage. Additionally, you can work, read, and stay connected during the journey while enjoying the scenic views from the window.

Environmentally, the benefits are just as significant. Firstly, there is the major reduction in carbon emissions which helps the mobility sector move closer to reaching its 2050 target of net-zero. Secondly, increased demand for train travel drives investment in greener infrastructure - from electrified lines to more frequent and accessible services, further accelerating the shift towards sustainable mobility.

What do you think is the most effective way to promote flight-free travel and to get people to change their behaviour?

I believe the key to promoting flight free-travel and to get people to change their behaviour is two-fold. Firstly, make train travel the easier choice by clearly showing the true cost comparison, factoring in not just ticket prices, but baggage fees and transport to and from the airport, and the true travel time, including airport transfers, security checks, flight time, and baggage collection.

For leisure travelers, transparency is key: the advantages of trains should be front and centre, especially for discovering unique destinations that match individual preferences - many of which can’t be reached by plane.

For example, booking the Eurostar from Amsterdam to Paris two or so months in advance can make it cheaper, significantly faster, more convenient, and far more comfortable than flying. When this kind of information is easy to find and understand, choosing the train often becomes the obvious choice.

Secondly, make the environmental impact tangible. Saying a train trip saves 100 kg of CO₂ doesn’t mean much to most people, but explaining that it’s equivalent to heating a home for a week or driving 500 km makes it real. By turning abstract numbers into relatable comparisons, even those without a technical background can understand the benefits and feel motivated to change their habits.

An example of some of the suggestions for places to travel to when Amsterdam was the starting location.

What are the most pressing issues or barriers that need to be addressed in order to support more widespread adoption of flight free travel?

In my opinion, the first barrier to overcome in increasing the adoption of flight-free travel is making trains more cost-competitive with flights. Railway companies should improve internal efficiency, but true and structural change needs cross-border governmental cooperation on value added tax (VAT), electricity taxes and infrastructure fees.

For example, most international flights are exempt from VAT - a similar exemption for international rail travel could help level the playing field. We need structural policy changes to ensure fair competition.

Another way to improve competitiveness would be to reintroduce sleeper trains at scale. When factoring in the savings on a hotel night, an overnight train with a sleeping berth can often outperform a flight plus accommodation.

The second major barrier is convenience. Increasing the frequency of (direct) trains between major cities would make them a more attractive choice. Reliable, high-speed internet on board and consistently punctual services would further encourage travellers to work, read, or stay connected during the journey.

Better reliability and connectivity would also make trains a stronger option for commuting and other regular travel, not just leisure trips.

What is your most memorable flight free travel experience and why?

My most memorable flight free experience was traveling from the Netherlands to Switzerland by train to do the Kesch Hike, a three-day hut-to-hut trek in the Alps.

At first, I was hesitant about the long journey, but I chose it because there were no luggage restrictions (bringing my hiking poles and crampons were no hassle), it was only one transfer to reach Zurich (our base), and the price was comparable to flying. I even worked remotely on the train, saving a vacation day.

In the end, I was thrilled with my choice. All of my trains were on time fortunately, and the journey itself became part of the experience as we were passing through breathtaking landscapes in Switzerland.

Once on the hike, which was also easily accessible by public transport, I felt deeply connected to nature, knowing I was exploring it without contributing to its destruction.

That first trip broke the biggest barrier: now, for similar distances, the train is my default choice. The views, the ability to work en route, and the absence of airport waiting times make it an easy decision.

If you had to sum up what makes a great holiday experience in a sentence, what would you say?

A great holiday blends new experiences with a deep connection to nature, leaving you recharged and inspired, while treading lightly on the places that you visit.

By Eveline Vouillemin ©

Go to the Train Navigator website to find out more about what they do and discover how they can help you to plan a flight free adventure.