Meet the man who is so fond of trains that he will even travel by train while his wife flies to the same destination.
Most of us would prefer to arrive at our destination with our travelling companion, but David Crossley, 74, from East Yorkshire, is such a railway enthusiast that he sometimes leaves his wife to take the slower route.
Even if it costs you more money.
He explains: ‘I prefer to travel by train than by plane, even if it takes longer and costs more.
‘There’s less hassle and stress than going through an airport, and you also have the luxury of enjoying the surroundings at a slower, more relaxed pace.’
David Crossley, top left, aged 74, from East Yorkshire, is such a keen railway enthusiast that he would rather leave his wife to take the slower route. Pictured: David and his wife dining on the Orient Express
“Last year I took the train from East Yorkshire to Narbonne in France while my wife flew. I’m sure my journey was much more relaxing.”
David has experienced Some of the most coveted lines in the world.
She comments: ‘For my 70th birthday, we took the Eurostar to Paris and then took the Orient Express to Venice. Afterwards, we used a Eurail pass to travel around Italy, Austria, Hungary, Germany and Belgium. It was great.’
“For my 60th birthday I took the plunge and bought an ‘All Lines Rover Two Week Ticket’ and travelled freely across the network from Penzance to Mallaig and the Isle of Skye. It was truly memorable!”
Interestingly, the favourite route for train enthusiasts is in the UK – a journey profiled by MailOnline travel editor Ted Thornhill.
For his 60th birthday, David took the Eurostar to Paris and then joined the Orient Express (above) to Venice.
David says that trains allow you “the luxury of taking in your surroundings at a slower, more relaxed pace.” Above: David’s meal on the Orient Express to Venice
David recalls: “My favourite is the Caledonian Sleeper, which runs from London Euston to Fort William. It’s so special to be able to wine, dine and sleep and then wake up for breakfast and take in the fantastic scenery of the West Highlands.”
However, he is also a fan of more exotic trains. David says: ‘We also experienced train travel at its finest with a Japan Railways Green Class pass and travelled extensively on the fantastic ‘bullet train’ from Tokyo to Hiroshima.
“Travelling overland by train means I get to see and experience more, and the journey really becomes an important part of the holiday. Most countries also have an excellent rail network, so it’s usually quite easy to organise.”
David is far from the only person who prefers a slower mode of travel, as according to research by luxury travel tour operator Scott Dunn, UK Google searches for information on “slow travel” have increased by 61 per cent in the past three months and there have been more than 16.3 million posts mentioning the trend on TikTok.
The findings come from Scott Dunn’s latest travel trends report.
The train enthusiast says: “We travelled a lot on the fantastic “Bullet Train” from Tokyo to Hiroshima.” Above, a photograph of a Japanese bullet train taken by David
David comments: “We had the best experience of train travel with a Green Class pass from Japan Railways.” On the left, a bullet train that David travelled on and (on the right) a view of Mount Fuji from David’s seat.
It was found that by 2024, British holidaymakers will prioritise some well-earned rest and relaxation, with more than three quarters (81 per cent) travelling specifically to de-stress and slow down this summer.
Scott Dunn Booking volume for rail travel tripled between January and April compared to the same period last year and data shows 45 percent of the travel planner’s guests plan to take longer vacations this year, “suggesting they’re craving more rest stops, slower schedules and plenty of time to relax.”
How do they do it? The results of the study show that half of people (50 percent) say that eating and drinking out is their favourite way to relax when on holiday.
Nearly half (42 percent) admit that reading is their way to relax, and a third of people (33 percent) say that simply sunbathing is the answer.
Spending time in nature (31 percent) and hiking (30 percent) rounded out the top five ways people chose to relax on vacation.
The data also showed that Britons need three full days to switch off when on holiday, although those who regularly check their smartphone (and work emails) may find it takes longer.
Simon Lynch, Global Product Director at Scott Dunn, commented: “Taking a slower, ‘gentler’ approach to the way you travel, and making the journey part of your trip, will not only encourage you to relax and unwind more quickly, but will inevitably lead to discovery along the way – and this, in turn, can also help you create meaningful memories.”
For more information on Scott Dunn’s latest travel trends index or for more tips from the experts on how to have a “relaxing travel experience” this year, visit: www.scottdunn.com/inspiration/travel-trends/this-year/summer