Forget gap years - youngsters would rather 'festi-rail' around Britain

The gap year was once a vital part of an ex-student’s life between university studies and launching into a career – but today’s uncertain economic times, and doubts over international travel, sees the gap year being ditched in favour of an exciting new trend labelled ‘festi-railing’. Youngsters are no longer booking round the world flights, they’re planning train journeys instead to tour Britain’s ever-growing festival scene. 

New research commissioned by 16-25 Railcard and carried out by global trends firm Fitch, reveals that late teens and 20-somethings have adopted a post-recession mindset of spending ‘little and often’ when it comes to travel - and are ‘festi-railing’ as they look to spend their free time within easy travelling distance of their parents’ home or student digs.

‘Festi-railing’ adopts a similar culture to ‘inter-railing’, which became popular in the 1980s and saw young backpackers travelling around Europe via train. The difference now is that there is more of an appeal to stay in Britain during the summer season due to the increasing popularity of festivals and the excellent value-for-money rail travel offers.

The rise of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, combined with booking online and using Railcards to make great savings, also means lots of shorter travel experiences are now much easier to organise with friends.

Over the last 10 years, the number of 16-25 Railcards sold has gone up by 55% and there are now more than 1.3m 16-25 Railcard holders in Britain. In comparison, the number of 16-24 year olds who travelled overseas in 2009 was 12.7% down on the previous 12 months.

The findings also reveal:
- The total distance travelled within Great Britain has increased by 90% since the 1980s
- The amount of trips arranged via social networks like Facebook has almost doubled since 2008 amongst young travellers.

Fitch Travel Trends Expert, Alex Tibbenham, comments: “A gap year used to be the norm for any self-respecting youngster - but a number of factors, such as concerns about carbon footprints, natural disasters, terrorism and financial pressures, mean there are now fewer incentives for young people to travel the world.

“At the same time, the huge explosion of festivals has provided the perfect framework for young people looking for a sense of community of which to belong. The meteoric rise of social media in the last few years has also helped strengthen the appeal of festivals considerably.

“In the same way that inter-railing was born out of post-recession behaviour in the 1980s, ‘festi-railing’ - travelling frequently and often around Britain’s festival scene by train - looks set to rise in popularity this summer and over the next few years.”

Andrew Robertson, Head of Marketing for the 16-25 Railcard, said: “Train companies understand how young people will be feeling the pinch at the moment. That’s where Railcards come in - they offer real savings, particularly when combined with booking in advance to get some great value fares. Train companies now sell 800,000 cheap Advance tickets every week.

“Fitch’s findings show that younger people are becoming increasingly savvy when it comes to getting out and about to enjoy themselves at Britain’s growing number of festivals, at a fraction of the price of foreign travel.”

Train travel savings with 16-25 Railcard to Glastonbury
23rd to 26th June – Glastonbury: Somerset

Glastonbury is the world’s largest open-air music and performing arts festival, best known for its contemporary music line up. The closest train station is Castle Cary and there will be a free shuttle bus for all festival ticket holders which will run between Castle Cary and the festival’s very own bus station. A coach shuttle service will also be operating from Bristol Temple Meads for a fee of £14 each way.

Off-Peak Return journey from (£) Off-Peak Return journey with a 16-25 Railcard from (£) Savings (£)

London to Castle Cary £59.00 £38.95 £20.05
Sheffield to Castle Cary £90.10 £59.45 £30.65
Newcastle to Bristol Temple Meads £126.60 £83.55 £43.05
- Above Newcastle to Bristol Temple Meads prices exclude £14.00 shuttle bus service fee

Train travel savings with 16-25 Railcard to T in the Park
8th to 10th July – T in the Park: Balado, Kinross-shire

T in the Park is Scotland’s much loved and most successful music festival and the best way to get there by train is to travel into Glasgow, Edinburgh or Perth station. Festival-goers can then take the special T in the Park shuttle bus to the main attraction. Buses can be booked in advance at www.citylink.co.uk.

Off-Peak Return journey from (£) Off-Peak Return journey with a 16-25 Railcard from (£) Savings (£)

London to Glasgow £114.70 £75.70 £39.00
Exeter to Edinburgh £164.20 £108.40 £55.80
Leeds to Perth £105.80 £69.85 £35.95
Newcastle to Glasgow £59.50 £39.25 £20.25
- Prices above exclude shuttle transfer

Train travel savings with 16-25 Railcard to Leeds Festival
26th to 28th August – Leeds Festival: Bramham Park, Leeds

Leeds Festival has teamed up with a local bus company to make sure it’s even easier for festival-goers to travel to its Bramham Park site this summer. The shuttle bus will run from Leeds station all the way to the festival site. Train and bus tickets will be sold online at www.tpexpress.co.uk.

Off-Peak Return journey from (£) Off-Peak Return journey with a 16-25 Railcard from (£) Savings (£)

London to Leeds £88.60 £58.50 £30.10
Glasgow to Leeds £88.90 £58.70 £30.20
Swansea to Leeds £119.60 £78.95 £40.65
- Prices above exclude shuttle transfer

Train travel savings with 16-25 Railcard to Bestival
8th to 11th September – Bestival: Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight

As well as music, Bestival has the world’s biggest fancy dress party for 40,000 festival goers. Cocktail bars, laughter clubs, a farmers market, kids area, morris dancing and more make this festival the most colourful event on the calendar.

Off-Peak Return journey from (£) Off-Peak Return journey with a 16-25 Railcard from (£) Savings (£)

London to East Cowes £52.20 £34.45 £17.75
Exeter to East Cowes £54.60 £36.05 £18.55
Newcastle to East Cowes £147.60 £97.40 £50.20
- Prices above include Ferry transfer

ENDS
For more information, please contact: Rebecca Binks or Alison Crowley at
Clarion Communications on 020 7479 0910

Sources:

LENNON Rail Industry Ticketing Database

LENNON Rail Industry Ticketing Database

Young people are becoming more inwardly aware rather than global, with fewer than 5.4 million 16-24 year-olds travelling overseas in 2009. This was a 12.7% fall year-on-year. (Office national statistics)

The total distance travelled by people within Great Britain on train has increased by 90% in the last 30 years. (Office national statistics)

Young travellers’ use of online social networking in arranging trips has surged in recent years, 13% reported having done so when asked in 2008, 24% said they had when asked in 2010 (Mintel).

Festivals contribute over £130m6 to the economy (AIF 2010).