Exeter resident crowned National Rail’s ‘Chief Environment Officer’ to inspire Brits to take sustainable trips by train
Sophia King from Exeter has been crowned one of National Rail’s ‘Chief Environment Officers’ (CEOs) who will champion sustainable travel by train around Britain.
Sophia’s prize includes all expenses paid trips to ditch the car, discover 10 of Britain’s hidden green attractions and locations, and vlog her experiences to inspire others to make green journeys by train.
A passionate traveller at heart, Sophia has always been a fan of train travel and its sustainable qualities. Her goal as Chief Environment Officer is to spread sustainable facts to the next generation and influence them to travel in a greener way. “I think sustainable change is achievable if everyone challenged themselves to book one holiday or weekend away by train every year instead of driving. As a result, the impact will be huge. I don't expect people to make huge changes to their choice of transport drastically, but I always believe each small change has a ripple effect.” says Sophia.
After finding the National Rail CEO competition on Instagram, Sophia says she had an instinctive feeling that she should enter. She had always been a keen traveller but claimed she wanted a way to make her frequent trips more focused on sustainability – and this was the perfect way to lean into that. “I am an avid believer that becoming passionate about something doesn’t happen overnight - it’s all about taking the little steps to get there. I’m excited to visit new places in the UK and to know I’m doing it sustainably while showing the next generation the many adventures that can be had by train”, adds Sophia.
The CEO competition was judged by explorer and broadcaster Simon Reeve, who said, “Sophia’s CEO competition entry was visually stunning and authentically showed her passion for sustainable travel. I feel confident that her reviews of some of Britain’s best trips by train will inspire others to opt for green trips of their own, and I look forward to following along with her adventures.”
Travelling by train is one of the greenest forms of public transport and a ready-made solution for a low-carbon future where our roads are quieter and safer, and the air we breathe is cleaner. Taking the train already helps tackle climate change – it cuts carbon emissions by two-thirds compared to traveling by car - and it can do more in the future. That’s why National Rail began the search for three Chief Environment Officers and will be promoting their inspirational vlogs to inspire others to go green and get onboard.
Jacqueline Starr, CEO at Rail Delivery Group, comments, “Travelling by train cuts carbon emissions by two-thirds compared to driving, but many Brits are unaware of the sustainability credentials of rail. Therefore, we are proud to appoint Sophia as one of our Chief Environment Officers who will champion sustainable travel and enjoy visiting some of Britain’s greenest and most beautiful destinations over the next three months.”
To see the sustainable destinations you can visit by train, check out railcard.co.uk/maketracks, National Rail’s YouTube channel and follow @nationalrailenq on Facebook, Twitter, and national.rail on Instagram.
