Good morning Supporter

I'm pleased to be writing to you about three things this morning, including our new report - launched today - which reveals the amazing potential of the Channel Tunnel to take many more people by rail to many more places. But first, a quick piece of exciting news...

Great news!

I am delighted to announce an exciting opportunity. For just one week from 22 to 29 April your Campaign for Better Transport donation will be doubled. We have been selected for the Big Give Green Match Fund and any donations made through our campaign page for seven days from noon on 22 April until noon on 29 April will be doubled. We will be in touch when the campaign launches with the link to the donation page. 

The Channel Tunnel could do so much more

Did you know, of the train paths available through the Channel Tunnel, less than 50 per cent of passenger capacity and ten per cent of freight capacity is currently being used?

There is amazing potential for international rail services to increase, not just to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam but to a tantalising range of destinations. How about catching a direct train from the UK to Geneva, Frankfurt or the French Alps? Of course, this wouldn't just be good news for our holidays, but for the planet too: 17 million journeys are made by plane each year between London and cities in mainland Europe that could easily be reached by train.

These are the possibilities explored in our new report, Runways to railways: unlocking the potential of the Channel Tunnel, published today. It's packed not just with great stats, but with quotes from our brilliant supporters who filled in our international rail survey - you might be one of them! 

With the Government undertaking a major program of domestic rail reform, it's important that international rail isn't overlooked. Our report calls on the Government to develop an International Rail Strategy, to enable more direct services to Europe, make it easier for people to buy through tickets, and streamline security and border control checks.

Join our webinar, Greening Social Care

Finally, news of a webinar on another important subject. Home care workers travel between their clients' homes providing vital social care. At the moment, these essential workers are at risk of being burdened or left behind by transport decarbonisation policies.

On Monday 28 April, we will be launching a new report, Greening Social Care, supported by UNISON, which looks at how to ensure a just transition for home care workers.

If you are interested in how carbon emissions from transport can be reduced fairly, why not join our free webinar, with speakers from Campaign for Better Transport, UNISON and IPPR, and find out more?

Date: Monday, 28 April
Time: 12 noon to 1pm

That's all for now - enjoy the long weekend

Michael

Michael Solomon Williams, Head of Campaigns
Campaign for Better Transport