I had reason to read up on this recently and there is some literature out there about ‘knowledge economy’ workers, specifically including university staff, and the very material nature of their travel. Interestingly this has now led to the topic ending up on my university’s environment/sustainability committee agenda. The implications for internationalisation agendas are interesting…

 

One paper worth reading if you want to squirm:

 

Lassen, C. (2010), 'Environmentalist in Business Class: An Analysis of Air Travel and Environmental Attitude', Transport Reviews, 30(6), 733-751.

 

Nick Gill

 

 

Dr. Nicholas Gill

School of Earth and Environmental Science and Australian Centre for Cultural Enviromental Research

University of Wollongong NSW 2522 Australia

Ph: 02 4221 4165

Fax: 02 4221 4250

Skype: nicholas-gill1

Email: [log in to unmask]

Twitter: DrNickGill

http://www.uow.edu.au/science/eesc/eesstaff/UOW002998.html

 

Head of Postgraduate Studies - SEES

 

 

 

This e-mail may have been generated using voice recognition software. Please excuse any errors or oddities.

 

 

 

 

From: A forum for critical and radical geographers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of dingyannan
Sent: Friday, 31 August 2012 3:25 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: 答复: Take the Train

 

Hi all,

I found this a very interesting topic to discuss. Actually train travel is gaining back customers from airlines, not to mention long distance coaches, in China. I won't say it has much to do with the environmentalist concerns of average travelers, but the high speed train could just offer what used to be a privilege of flying: punctuality and reliability. Travel with the train is still a lot cheaper than flying, especially on those Ordinary-speed (pukuai), i. e. non-high speed, trains. I have friends traveling from Shanghai to Hong Kong to attend a conference!


Yannan

发自我的 Windows Phone

---

发件人: Innisfree McKinnon
发送时间: 2012/8/31 0:56
收件人: [log in to unmask]
主题: Re: Take the Train

Hi all,
I frequently take the train here on the West Coast, but there are a number of issues with Amtrak. For example, I can drive between Davis CA (my home town) and Eugene OR (where the University of Oregon is located) in about 8 hours.  The train takes at least 14 and usually 16. That wouldn't be much of a problem, but the train has no wireless connection and almost no electrical outlets. Short range commuter trains in CA have wireless and outlets. It is only possible to work on a computer for however long your battery lasts. It is also difficult to sleep in the train seat and very expensive to buy a room with a bed, much more than the cost of a plane ticket. 

So if I was to take the train to AAG in LA, it would most likely take a minimum of 28 hours, cost as much as a plane ticket, and I would arrive exhausted from lack of sleep. I have actually done calculations about costs in time and money of train versus plane trips. In my experience, if you are traveling less than 300-400 miles, it could be cheaper and more relaxing/productive to take the train. This is all speaking from a West Coast point of view. I have had very little chance to travel by train on the East Coast, in Europe, or other parts of the world.

Innisfree McKinnon
PhD Candidate
Department of Geography 
University of Oregon

P.S. I also have food intolerances, which means I need to pack all my own food on long train trips. On the up side, bringing your own food saves money over buying horrible packaged junk on the train. 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Ruddick <[log in to unmask]>
To: CRIT-GEOG-FORUM <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:30
Subject: Take the Train

Hi Everyone

I was curious given the amount of air travel we do as geographers how  

many people have considered taking the train (which can be a working  

trip with laptop) to various conference destinations (I am thinking in  

particular of the upcoming AAG for geographers who live in North  

America)

just curious

Sue