I love travelling by train so much I go by rail… while my wife flies

• David Crossley, 74, from East Yorkshire, UK, is a keen railway enthusiast
• The train buff admits he’d rather go by rail to avoid the ‘stress’ of the airport 
• He’s ridden the Orient Express to Venice, the Eurostar and a Japanese bullet train
• READ MORE: Inside the GWR sleeper train from London to Cornwall

Meet the man who’s such a keen train buff that he’ll even travel by rail while his wife flies to the same destination.

Most of us would rather get to our destination alongside our travel companion, but David Crossley, 74, from East Yorkshire is so keen on railways that he sometimes ditches his spouse to take the slower route.

Even if it costs him more money. 

He explains: ‘I much prefer train travel over flying, even if it takes longer and costs more.

‘There is less hassle and stress compared with going through an airport, plus you get the luxury of taking in the surroundings at a slower, more relaxed pace.’

‘Last year I took the train from East Yorkshire to Narbonne in France whilst my wife flew. I’m sure my journey was much more relaxing.’

David has experienced some of the most lusted-after lines in the world.

He comments: ‘For my 70th birthday we took the Eurostar to Paris then joined the Orient Express to Venice. After that, we used a Eurail pass to travel through Italy, Austria, Hungary, Germany and Belgium. It was brilliant.

‘For my 60th I ventured on a two-week “All Lines Rover ticket” and travelled freely over the network from Penzance to Mallaig and the Isle of Skye. It was truly memorable!’

Interestingly, the train enthusiast’s favourite route is in the UK – a journey reviewed by MailOnline Travel Editor Ted Thornhill.

David recalls: ‘My favourite is the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston to Fort William. It is so special to wine, dine and sleep then awake to breakfast and the fantastic scenery of the West Highlands.’

However, he’s also a fan of more exotic trains too. David says: ‘We also experienced rail travel at its very best with a Japan Railways Green Class pass and travelled extensively on the fantastic “bullet train” from Tokyo to Hiroshima.

‘Travelling over land via rail means I get to see and experience more, and the journey really becomes a big part of the holiday. Most countries have a great train network too, so it’s usually quite simple to organise.’

David is far from the only person who prefers a slower mode of travel, as according to a study by luxury travel tour operator Scott Dunn, UK Google searches for info on ‘slow travel trips’ have increased by 61 per cent in the past three months and there have been more than 16.3million posts mentioning the trend on TikTok.

The findings come from Scott Dunn’s latest travel trends report.

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It found that in 2024, British holidaymakers are prioritising some well-earned rest and relaxation, with over three-quarters (81 per cent) travelling specifically to de-stress and slow down this summer.

Scott Dunn saw triple the volume of bookings for train journeys between January and April compared to the same period last year and data shows that 45 per cent of the travel planner’s guests plan to take longer holidays this year, ‘suggesting they crave more rest stops, slower schedules and ample time to relax’.

How do they do this? The study results showed that half of people (50 per cent) say that eating and drinking out is their favourite way to relax when on holiday.

Almost half (42 per cent) admit that reading is their route to relaxation, and a third of people (33 per cent) say simply basking in the sunshine is the answer.

Spending time in nature (31 per cent) and excursions (30 per cent) rounded out the top five ways people chose to relax while on holiday.

The data also showed that it takes Brits three full days to switch off when on holiday, although those who regularly check their smartphone (and work emails) may find it takes them longer.

Simon Lynch, Global Product Director at Scott Dunn, commented: ‘Taking a slower and more “gentle” approach to the way that you travel – and making the journey part of your trip – will not only encourage you to relax and unwind quicker, but it will inevitably lead to discovery along the way, and this, in turn, can help you to make meaningful memories too.’

To find out more about Scott Dunn’s latest Travel Trends Index, or for more tips from the specialists on how to have a ‘relaxing travel experience’ this year, visit: www.scottdunn.com/inspiration/travel-trends/this-year/summer