GabyScientists have calculated that Chris Rea’s journey, which inspired the popular 1986 song “Driving Home For Christmas,” produced 44 kg of carbon dioxide.
A team from the University of Sheffield calculated that Rea could cut that carbon footprint by as much as 88 percent by taking the train, reducing CO₂ to just 5 kg.
The Song as a Catalyst for Research
The study even suggested the artist reconsider that legendary Christmas trip — maybe write a new hit about a more eco-friendly journey, the Daily Mail reported.
The study focused on a trip in the 1978 Austin Mini owned by Rea’s wife. This is the trip described in the song, one of the most beloved Christmas hits worldwide.
“Driving Home For Christmas” is a short road song celebrating the joy of an imminent reunion with loved ones. Rea’s real trip covered 241 miles (about 388 km) from London’s Abbey Road studio to his hometown Middlesbrough in North Yorkshire, England.
Recalling the trip that inspired the song, Rea said his wife suggested driving to Middlesbrough in her car to save money.
The song’s lyrics came to him while the car was stuck in a long traffic jam. “We kept standing still, and I looked at other drivers who were just as miserable,” Rea recalled. That’s when he started humming: “I’m driving home for Christmas…”
Additional Findings from the Researchers
The new study showed that Rea could cut his carbon footprint by 88 percent if he traveled to Middlesbrough by train.
Since the song’s release, emissions from both cars and trains have dropped by about 80 percent. But rail travel remains a greener mode of transport, said Dr. Stuart Walker, who led the study.
His team calculated average carbon dioxide emissions for the 241-mile trip across several transport modes.
The researchers found that traveling the same route in the singer’s new Mini electric car would emit no more than 11 kg of CO₂. In general, modern electric vehicles can reduce emissions to about 8 kg.
However, the train remains unrivaled in environmental friendliness for this distance. Rail travel would cause carbon emissions no greater than 5 kg.
The team also calculated CO₂ emissions for some other cars owned by Rea, including a Ferrari (148 kg) and a Fiat 500 (37 kg). But none could compete with the train, said Dr. Walker.
They say emissions from rail transport will fall further in the future. “This will be facilitated by electrification of lines and gradual emission reductions, as more and more electricity is produced from renewable energy sources,” said Dr. Walker.
