Scouts join youth coalition calling for greener, fairer, and more accessible rail travel in Europe

29 September 2025, Brussels – World Scouting has joined a coalition of youth, consumer, and environmental organisations in urging the European Union to take bold action to make rail travel cheaper, simpler, and fairer than flying. The coalition, Youth on Track, warns that without urgent reforms, a new generation of young people will be locked into the most polluting travel option at the expense of Europe’s climate goals.

Rail travel in Europe is, on average, five times cleaner than flying. Yet for most young people, flying remains cheaper and easier. Research shows that 71% of 15–24-year-olds cite high ticket prices as the main barrier to choosing rail, while 28% report difficulties booking journeys that combine two or more rail operators.

The European Commission first proposed to reform cross-border rail in 2021, pledging seamless ticketing and a fairer market. Five years later, the issue is back on the agenda. With aviation emissions projected to rise beyond pre-pandemic levels, the coalition calls on the EU to seize this second chance and deliver meaningful reforms through upcoming proposals on single ticketing, passenger rights, and VAT rules.

Youth on Track brings together a diverse group of partners, including World Scouting, the European Youth Card Association (EYCA), JEF Europe, Generation Climate Europe, consumer groups such as BEUC, and environmental organisations like Transport & Environment and Europe on Rail. Together, the coalition represents millions of young people, rail passengers, and climate advocates across Europe.

The coalition is calling for four key reforms:

• Seamless online ticket booking: ensuring interoperable ticketing across operators and borders.
• Transparent pricing: providing clear information on fares, discounts, mobility assistance, and bicycle transport.
• Fairer taxation between air and rail: exempting international rail travel from VAT and ending aviation’s tax privileges, with revenues partly reinvested in modernising Europe’s railways.
• Stronger passenger rights: guaranteeing that travellers can take the next available train at no extra cost if a connection is missed.

The goal of this initiative is to provide young people with the conditions they need to live up to their values of sustainability and global citizenship. With affordable rail travel, millions of Scouts across Europe can connect across borders, volunteer in communities, and take part in educational and cultural exchanges without sacrificing the environment.

“With grassroots projects and global initiatives like Earth Tribe, Scouts are already protecting our planet,” said Reinout Joostens, External Representative lead of the European Scout Region. “Young people are unable to make climate-friendly choices due to systemic barriers, such as the high cost of sustainable transportation. Taking action on rail reform is standing with young people in calling for policies that match Europe's climate goals and empower future generations.”

Through educational initiatives like the Earth Tribe, Scouts gain practical skills to adopt sustainable lifestyles and mobilise their communities. Across Europe, projects such as Boranka in Croatia, which has replanted forests destroyed by wildfires, and Leave No Trace programmes that equip Scouts with tools to minimise their environmental footprint, show how young people are already living sustainability in action. Through these experiences, we can ensure that our daily choices, whether in travel, consumption, or community engagement, contribute to a greener, more connected Europe.