Rail tour operator insists older travellers are 'driving the green agenda' amid bookings boom

General manager Maria Cook said: “We expected 2023 to be the year where we traded out of the pandemic and returned to pre-Covid levels, but bookings have surpassed our expectations.

“The mature travellers are certainly regaining their confidence to travel again and are determined to make up for the long period where they couldn’t holiday beyond the UK.”

She added: “Rail travel is proving itself to be the ‘green’ travel of choice for those who are very conscious about the climate crisis and want to reduce their carbon footprint by taking the train instead of the plane.” 

Ffestiniog Travel will mark its 50th anniversary in 2024. “There was a point during the pandemic when our 50th anniversary year became a maybe, but we have managed to navigate our way out of the worst crisis to hit the travel industry to reach our major milestone in a strong financial position,” Cook added. 

“This is thanks to our older climate-conscious travellers who have regained their wanderlust and of course to our small travel team of just nine consultants who actively provide a hands-on personal service.”