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The SNCF site has a carbon calculator that compares different forms of motored transport (including the depreciation on a car!) over the same journey, for eco-impact and - critically - price too. Unsurprisingly I haven't managed to make the train come out worst!
www.voyages-sncf.com/leisure/fr/launch/home is the place to look, then click on 'eco-comparateur'. Can't seem to find it on the english-language version of the site, yet, tho'. NB: this is not the regular timetable enquiry site, but you can click through.
I've been surprised recently by the prices that can be dug up, with a little tenacity, on this site, dramatic cuts in the cost of TGV-ing it across France, boosting the possibilities of the train in a country where it has all seemed rather expensive sometimes - walk-up GB prices are still higher, of course...
Last-minute (dernier minute) fares are well worth checking out, but they're only available from the Tuesday for the following week. You have to be a bit creative with the map and varying your destinations, but the savings make it worthwhile. The iDTGV and Prem's offers are also worth checking, along with advance purchase - look for the promos section on the site. Different deals have different time limits; weekend travel can be good too. There's a gizmo that'll tell you when it's cheapest to travel, like the price comparison air-fare sites. Don't worry about not being in France when you book, you can pick up tickets from machines or counters at the railway station in France. Looks like SNCF is genuinely trying to get more travellers on the trains, which really doesn't seem to be the case in Britain.
While on the subject of Carbon Calculators (we've got a lot to say about carbon offset in next issue, but you'll have to wait for that) you might look at the one at www.carbonresponsible.com - assuming their sums are right (...another long story, but...) this site does seem to be aware of some of the major Carbon Offset pitfalls, and include Environmental Education in the First World as well as easy targets in the Third as something they support. It's also got a scary "emissions to date" counter. Don't know much about their projects or their maths, but worth a look if the Carbon Offset route seems like a good idea to you.
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