Sustainable travel: travelling to Hamburg on the overnight train
Train instead of plane – railway travel is becoming increasingly popular. Not only is it better for the environment, it makes the journey itself an experience. In this article, blogger Anina von Aniahimsa talks about her overnight train trip, which Calida styles she wore and what the new Calida store in Hamburg looks like.
7 September 2021 • 8 min reading time
Learn how you can combine your love of travel with ecological awareness.
The Nightjet gets you from Zurich to the Hanseatic city of Hamburg in 11 hours. It’s especially comfortable if you get your own sleeping compartment. In fact, it’s quite an enjoyable trip. You have your own little apartment, with a bunk bed with real pillows and a duvet, a small bathroom with a shower, and two chairs with a direct view of the passing scenery.
The gentle rocking of the Nightjet on its tracks sends you off to sleep wonderfully. Having a real bed makes a big difference. Admittedly, it might be a little short for a tall sleeper, but it’s definitely comfortable. As are Calida pyjamas!
Time flies by when you’re sound asleep. And when you wake up in the morning, having your own bathroom is very handy. When it comes to your outfit, you want to stay comfy.
There are different tickets available for the Nightjet. The cheapest tickets are available for as little as CHF 48. Depending on how busy the train is, your own sleeping compartment costs around EUR 300.
Very! The service is also excellent. You can keep ordering hot water for tea, and the train attendant is always on hand if you have any issues.
If you don’t have your own compartment, you sleep in a room with a maximum of three other people of the same gender. The sleeping carriage is also separate from the other compartments, so you don’t have to worry about your valuables.
The numbers speak for themselves here.
Overnight train: 31.6 kg CO2/person
Car: 89.7 kg CO2/person
Plane: 127.1 kg CO2/person
So the overnight train emits 4 x less CO2 than a plane.
The flagship Calida store on the Neuer Wall shopping street in Hamburg is well worth a visit. It’s sustainably designed from A to Z, from the flooring to the QR codes the visitors can scan to follow the clothing’s manufacturing journey. The MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® label is one of the most transparent and strictest certifications available. It allows customers to trace the supply chain of each certified product in detail right back to the raw materials.
Absolutely! Of course, you have to plan more time for travelling, but the journey itself becomes part of the experience. And there are several other pluses to travelling by train:
Slowing down: When you travel by train, you have time to read a good book or simply let your mind wander.
No luggage restrictions: You can take as much luggage as you want.
Arrive feeling relaxed: Flying is always a bit stressful, whereas travelling by train is very relaxed.
Better for the planet: Taking the train emits much less CO2, so you can travel with a clear conscience.
Surprisingly fast: The return journey in particular didn’t take much longer than flying, just seven hours during the day. When you’re flying, you have to factor in extra time for checking in, waiting at the gate, etc.
Flying is too cheap: What if it’s not the train that’s too expensive, but flying that’s too cheap? The comfort and service on board the Nightjet definitely get top marks.
First class rather than business class: On the way back, booking first class is very good value. It can cost as little as EUR 10 extra, including seat reservation. Pretty great, right? You don’t get a deal like that when you fly.
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