ODRŽIVI RAZVOJ / SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Travel by Train
and Forget About Stressful Travel Experiences! MANY OF US WILL AGREE THAT SOME OF THE MOST WONDERFUL TRAVEL EXPERIENCES WE HAVE EVER HAD WERE BY TRAIN. IN ADDITION TO ALLOWING US TO TRAVEL TO A HOLIDAY DESTINATION OR WORK, THERE IS A NUMBER OF OTHER ADVANTAGES TO RAILWAYS—THEY ARE AFFORDABLE, COMFORTABLE, AND SAFE. THEY ARE THE SAFEST MODE OF LAND TRANSPORT WITH THE LOWEST INCIDENCE OF FATAL ACCIDENTS. TRAINS ARE FULLY EQUIPPED TO BE OUR MOBILE OFFICE, BUT WE CAN ALSO TAKE A TRAIN TRIP, VIEW THE SIGHTS ALONG THE WAY AND FORGET ALL ABOUT STRESSFUL TRAVEL EXPERIENCES. The EU has designated 2021 as the European Year of Rail to promote the use of trains as a safe and sustainable means of transport. Discover why in the text below.
THE ROLE OF RAILWAY TRANSPORT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TOURIST DESTINATION
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF RAILWAYS
The development of road and transport networks in specific destinations or to a travel destination plays a critical role in tourism development. A destination that has an efficient road infrastructure stands a better chance of using its capacities compared to a tourist destination that does not have a good road network.
Rail is considered a safer, more reliable, and environmentally friendly transport mode than any other transport mode others because it has the lowest impact on air pollution, takes up the least amount of space, and is the most energy-efficient form of transport. Railways largely differ from other modes of transport. Compared to highspeed roads, railways take up less space, have a higher transport value, and emit the least amount of CO2 and N2O, thus reducing their impact on climate change and the environment. According to the European Green Deal, the European Union’s goal is to cut greenhouse gases from the transport sector by 90% by 2050, so that a substantial part of inland land freight carried today by road shifts to rail and inland waterways. 120
Since the end of the 19th century, railways have played a significant role in making tourist destinations more attractive. One of the historical examples of how significant the role of railway traffic is in the development of urban tourist destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the route of the “Tobacco Factory – Ilidža Banja” railway which began operation on 28 June 1892. At the time, the best place for the people of Sarajevo to have a great time, particularly on Sunday, was Banja Ilidža. Local trains carried
passengers to Banja. The train ride took about fifteen minutes, while a horse-drawn omnibus or a carriage ride took an hour. In the centre of the spa complex there were two hotels—“Austria” and “Hungaria”. Between the two hotels, a spa restaurant facing the circular flower garden was set up. The restaurant was surrounded by a promenade called Wandelbahn leading up to the hotels and to Banja Ilidža Railway Station.
THE IMPACT OF RAIL TRANSPORT ON SPECIFIC FORMS OF TOURISM Cycling tourism, or the so-called bike train, is as an example of the impact rail transport can have on specific forms of tourism. In November 2018, the European Parliament supported the development of intermodal transportation by backing a proposal that will entitle passengers to take bicycles on board all trains. This includes high-speed, long-distance, cross-border and local services. Trains in European countries include a designated space to transport
