We see a contradiction, moreover, between the desire for an address on the network and the frequently expressed view that leisure travel, mainly outbound from the United Kingdom, should be Regional Eurostar s target market. If Regional Eurostar is to be primarily a leisure and tourist service, with a limited business role, the economic arguments for it are weakened. In our view, the benefits of an address on the network are mainly to do with image and presentation, rather than meeting an essential travel need or generating economic growth. This point of view is based on the inherently lower emissions and lower pollution from electrically powered rail. In Chapter 5, we evaluate the environmental impact of the Regional Eurostar option selected.
Experts agree that rail is inherently more environmentally friendly than air.
Transferring travellers who would have used domestic rail services to connect to Inter-Capital Eurostar to Regional Eurostar is unlikely to give a net benefit. The environmental case for Regional Eurostar, therefore, depends on the service operated and the number of new rail passengers carried.