I Came by Train Gets Festival-Goers on Track for a Greener Summer
As festival season kicks off across the UK, the climate movement - 'I came by train' - is launching a new campaign encouraging music lovers to ditch the car keys and board the train for a more sustainable and stress-free way to get to Glastonbury Festival this summer.
Supported by Trainline, I came by train is designed to reduce the environmental impact of festival travel by promoting rail as the greener, easier choice. With direct routes to Glastonbury and some of the UK's biggest music festivals, the campaign is making it easier than ever for fans to enjoy the summer — with fewer traffic jams and emissions.
Truant has led the social, and music strategy for the I came by train campaign, including on-the-ground support at Glastonbury Festival itself.
The last week in June 2024 saw a +225% uplift in train travel to Castle Cary and nearby station (Taunton, Frome, and Bruton) and via this campaign, it is expected to grow even further this year.
Last year festivalgoers travelled an average of 122 miles to Glastonbury, but their emissions stay low if travelling by train. Trains generate up to 67% less CO2 emissions per passenger than car travel - making the switch a powerful climate action. London, the North West and South West were the top three places most people took the train from last year on their way to the festival. If just 10% more took the train, we’d save 543 tons of CO2, with every swap from car to rail saving almost 12kg of CO2.
The campaign aims to reduce the UK’s CO2e emissions by eight million metric tons by 2035, this equates to everyone in the UK switching one 200 miles car journey to rail and traveling to Glastonbury is the perfect way to make the switch.
As part of the campaign, I came by train is working with several artists performing at Glastonbury, including Sam Ryder, Self Esteem and Greentea Peng, who are using their platforms to promote greener travel to the festival. The artists are encouraging fans to join them and thousands of others in making the simple switch to rail and pledging to travel by train to festivals this summer - an act that can have a big environmental impact.
The campaign aims to support the movement’s ultimate goal, which is to increase the number of citizens choosing to travel by train, supporting the UK Climate Change Committee’s targets for a 30% increase in passenger rail travel by 2035.
A total of 20 artists have taken the pledge, showing their commitment to low-carbon travel and inspiring others to do the same.
Self Esteem said, “I’m keen on the planet so being asked to ‘come by train’ was an easy yes from me. These things feel small, but they add up to something bigger. It’s important to make the changes where you can. see you at Glastonbury!”
Artist Greentea Peng said, “'If it means saving our Mother some unnecessary gases and myself some unnecessary traffic, then why wouldn't I get the train? All aboard bbz, see ya'll on the Glasto Express!'
Sam Ryder said, "So stoked to get the train to Glastonbury with my band and crew this year as part of the "I came by train project climate movement". We are gonna be playing uno and just generally being smug on the train while saving the planet”
Chris Jefford, CEO at Truant said, “This is an incredible project for us to be involved with, a chance to work with a brilliant team as I came by train, an iconic festival like Glastonbury, and a range of brilliant artists from across the country to create meaningful, lasting environmental impact. We all know that shifting travel behaviour is incredibly hard, which is why we felt there was a huge opportunity to lean into the influence that musicians - across all genres - have on fans of their music, and create a network of artists and fans all pledging to make the switch to train for the festival and beyond. This is less about a campaign, and more about creating a cultural movement, driven by fandom, to create real, lasting change, and we’re very proud to be involved.”
Natalie Marques, sustainability head for I came by train said, “We know that Glastonbury and music festivals are a huge part of the UK’s cultural fabric - and by choosing to come by train, fans can take pride in making a real difference. This campaign is about turning good intentions into easy actions for the benefit of the planet. Every train journey is a step toward a more sustainable festival experience - and we’re excited to see artists and fans come together to make that happen.”
Festivalgoers can explore train routes and take the pledge here and their journey using #ICameByTrain. With thousands already pledging to take the train this summer, the campaign aims to inspire a wave of small actions that add up to big environmental wins.
