Years ago, I hadn't even considered it – taking the train to the training camp?! Not because I was against it, but because I didn't think it could be possible. Meanwhile, I've been engaging a lot with climate protection, co-initiated the Ruderwald with Carlotta, and am involved with Health for Future and Sports For Future. I am aware that through our competitive sports, we have a significant impact on the climate, so we also have a responsibility.
In early February, our training camp from the Berlin training center to Sabaudia near Rome was planned. During the winter months, training camps in Southern Europe are common because the waters in Germany are often frozen, meaning there is hardly any other option than to undertake a long journey. We have been there several times before and have always flown. Our coach drives by car, transporting our rowing boats and equipment.
When the date was set, I researched alternative travel options and concluded that I would take the train from Berlin to Rome. This meant a journey of about 20 hours instead of a 2-hour flight (plus several hours for the journey to the airport, check-in, waiting time, and arrival) but also a much more climate-friendly journey (about 48 kg of CO2 instead of approximately 480 kg emitted CO2).
I was very pleased that four other rowers also chose to travel by train! The journey together was very entertaining and even fun! We traveled from Berlin to Munich and then switched to the night train to Rome, where we were on the move from 8 pm to 9 am. I didn't sleep very well, but it was okay – we had a sleeping compartment to ourselves and arrived rested the next day.
Unfortunately, climate-friendly train travel is not a financial advantage; I paid about €250 for both routes, while the flyers were much cheaper at sometimes €30 per leg. Nevertheless, I would choose the train over the airplane anytime if it fits into the schedule and the route allows it. Not all trips can be managed by train. However, I want to raise awareness that more is possible than we think.
Fini Sturm
