Scottish Classical Sustainability Group launches 2022-23 Train Travel Report

The Scottish Classical Sustainability Group (SCSG) has launched its ‘Classical Music and Train Travel in Scotland 2022-23’ report.

Collated using learning and data from the 30+ members of the SCSG, the report presents the five key barriers currently preventing greater use of train travel by the Scottish classical music sector.

Established in 2020, the Scottish Classical Sustainability Group brings Scotland’s classical music sector together to make sustainable change in a unified way. The SCSG represents the breadth and variety of the sector, with member organisations that include international festivals, national companies, touring ensembles, and freelance and leisure-time musicians. The group also includes representatives from the Association of British Orchestras, The Musicians Union, Creative Carbon Scotland, and Creative Scotland.

The findings in this report are the results of a survey distributed to all SCSG members, as well as feedback and learning from more than two years of regular meetings.

The report highlights the following key barriers preventing greater use of train travel:

Timetables
Ticket costs
Travel with large instruments
International connections
Accessibility

Travel is one of the most significant sources of carbon emissions for many classical music organisations in Scotland – at times accounting for as much as 90% of an organisation’s annual carbon footprint. It is one of most challenging emissions sources to decarbonise, a fact reflected in Scotland’s own national emissions reporting.

To achieve government climate targets, it is vital that society transitions to different methods of travel. This report concludes that by addressing the identified challenges, transport providers, local authorities, and the government, can support classical music organisations, artists, and audiences to take the train more often and reduce travel-related carbon emissions.

Scott Morrison, co-founder of the Scottish Classical Sustainability Group and co-author of the report says:

“Increasing the use of public transport is a crucial step in achieving Scotland’s decarbonisation goals. This report clearly lays out the barriers currently preventing classical musicians, audiences, and organisations from making greater use of trains and reducing their travel-related carbon emissions. We hope its contents can inform future decisions by policymakers and transport providers to make rail travel as accessible as possible and reduce the damage currently being done to the planet.”

The contents of the report will be shared within the arts sector and presented by the SCSG to key elected representatives and officials at transport providers. It is intended as a snapshot of the current situation and a summary that can be used to influence future planning decisions.

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