Going green

PLANET FRIENDLY TRAVEL NEWS BY

Asia specialist Bamboo Travel is swapping planes for trains in Thailand.

With the imminent opening of the vast Bang Sue station in Bangkok, the 17-day Alternative Thailand tour will replace the flight from Chiang Mai to the capital with an overnight rail trip.

Bamboo chief Robin Ball said: ‘’The opening of Bang Sue station is a big step forward in plans to create a Pan-Asia rail network that will allow us to switch from using domestic and regional flights to trains, therefore significantly reducing carbon emissions on our itineraries.” bambootravel.co.uk ■■Abu Dhabi’s Etihad airline has unveiled the world’s first green loyalty programme.

Conscious Choices allows members to earn miles for offsetting flights, flying lighter and being a sustainable traveller, and is part of the flag carrier’s mission to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and halve 2019 emissions by 2035.

Etihad’s CO2 reduction initiatives under its Greenliner sustainability programme include adopting thousands of mangroves, using sustainable fuels, reducing heat-trapping contrails, flying optimised flight paths and operating more electric vehicles.

CEO Tony Douglas said: ‘’We’re pleased to welcome our eight million members to jump on board this journey to sustainability.’’ etihad.com

Get the big nights of European football on side with UEFA Champions League hotel stay and match ticket packages for top March fixtures. Games include

Manchester United v Atletico Madrid (15th) and Liverpool v Inter Milan (8th) with prices from

£199 per person. barrheadtravel.co.uk