An independent survey into the holiday habits of people aged 35 and over has revealed that a growing disenchantment with flying is persuading travellers to forsake the plane for the train.
Research commissioned by Great Rail Journeys, the UK's marketing leading tour operator of escorted holidays by rail, has shown that over 39% of people questioned actively disliked flying, compared to only 1% who didn't like rail travel.
Long check-in queues at airports, cramped conditions on board flights and concerns about the effects of air travel on the environment have all been responsible for people's changing attitudes towards holiday transport.
Nearly 700 people aged between 35 and 85 took part in the survey which was conducted by QA Research, an independent social and market research agency. The report revealed that 94% of those questioned say they would enjoy taking the train to their holiday destination compared to just 33% who really enjoy flying. 88% of people feel that there is too much queuing at airports these days; 75% believe it is unreasonable to be asked to check in at an airport several hours prior to the flight and 29% are anxious about flying.
The length of time queuing at airports is more of an issue for male travellers with 94% unhappy with current check-in arrangements, compared to 82% of females. Younger travellers are more likely to be indifferent to being asked to check in at an airport several hours before flying with 60% of all 35-44 and 41% of all 45-55 year olds happy to put up with current arrangements compared to only 7%, 11% and 3% of those aged 55-64, 65-74 and 75 plus.
Male travellers are less likely to be concerned about flying with 57% of those surveyed stating they were not nervous about flying compared to 43% of females.
Whilst 49% are aware of the impact of flying on the environment, northerners (38%) are more inclined than southerners (21%) to pay extra to use a more environmentally friendly form of transport.
As an alternative form of holiday transport, 96% see rail as a comfortable, relaxed and stress free way to travel and 77% are aware that it is a much more environmentally friendly form of transport.
Great Rail Journeys Marketing Director, Alex Roberts, said "People's attitudes to holiday travel are changing. Whether they are tired of the experience they face at airports or are worried about the effects that their travel is having on the environment, increasingly they are recognising the advantages of going on holiday by train rather than flying.
"The findings certainly reflect our experience. In 2008, over 34,000 people travelled on a holiday by rail with Great Rail Journeys. Better facilities on board trains and improvements in the European Rail network, such as Eurostar's High Speed One line from St Pancras International, the TGV Est to Strasbourg and Basle, and new high speed routes in Spain have made the holidaying by rail experience quicker and more comfortable than ever before."
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