Low-carbon travel is not always seamless.
In parts of Europe, especially across the Balkans, railways simply do not connect in practical ways. International routes are limited, slow, or suspended. Borders between EU and non-EU countries involve passport checks, customs procedures, and unpredictable waiting times.
In these places, buses are not a secondary choice. They are often the only one.
Where Rail Ends
At Barcelona Nord, I was reminded that Europe’s transport system is layered. Trains dominate Western Europe, but buses extend the network.
There is no railway connection between Barcelona and Andorra. The only realistic way into the Pyrenees is by coach. The three-hour ride climbs steadily. The road narrows. The air cools. It is not dramatic. It is simply how the region functions.
San Marino: A State Without Rail
San Marino has no active railway. To reach it, I took a bus from Rimini.
The route climbs into the hills. There is no visible border checkpoint, but you are crossing into a sovereign state. Here, buses are not an alternative. They are the infrastructure itself.
Crossing the Balkans
In Podgorica, buses connect Montenegro to Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania, and further into the EU.
Cross-border journeys are tangible. Drivers collect passports. Officers board the bus. Luggage compartments are opened. Sometimes the process is quick. Sometimes it takes much longer. You feel the border.
Everyday Mobility
The buses are practical. Seats worn. Curtains faded. Air conditioning inconsistent.
Passengers include workers, students, families, traders carrying large bags.
I once watched a washing machine being loaded into the luggage hold. It did not surprise anyone. These buses move people and goods together.
The Part I Struggle With
There is one reason I still prefer trains when possible.
Many long-distance Balkan bus routes last eight to ten hours. Most coaches do not have onboard toilets. You wait for scheduled stops. When you need a bathroom, you wait for the next one. And the facilities are often basic, sometimes not particularly clean.
This is the only part of long-distance bus travel I genuinely struggle with. Trains offer more space and consistent facilities. On buses, comfort depends heavily on timing.
Extending the Network
Despite these limitations, buses extend Europe’s mobility network where tracks end. From Barcelona to Andorra. From coastal Italy into San Marino. Across Balkan borders where rail infrastructure was never rebuilt or modernized.
They do not compete with trains. They replace what does not exist.
Sustainable Travel in Imperfect Systems
From an emissions perspective, buses sit between rail and flying. In Europe, rail averages around 14g CO₂ per passenger kilometer. Coaches often range between 25–60g. Short-haul flights typically exceed 150g.
Rail is clearly lower. But in regions where rail does not exist, the real comparison is not bus versus train. It is bus versus flying.
In the Balkans, choosing the bus is not about chasing the lowest possible number. It is about working with the infrastructure that exists.
Sustainable travel is rarely about ideal systems. It is about making the best possible decision within real ones.
In much of the Balkans, and in mountain states like Andorra or San Marino, buses are not secondary transport. They are the backbone.
