How absolutely fabulous to have a powerful voice supporting train travel as a sustainable form of transport.

Support for taking the train rather than flying has come from actress Joanna Lumley.

She wants people to “think a bit harder” about their consumption. She told the Radio Times: “Maybe more of our holidays should be at home or taking trains, and not hopping on a plane to Magaluf for the weekend.”

Well said.

There are so many wonderful train trips to be had in the UK. Barely a week goes by without a printed or online list of the Top 10 Most Scenic/Britain’s Best/Spectacular Views journeys by rail.

Scan the TV listings and rail aficionados like me are spoilt for choice whether you wish to be “escorted” by Michael Portillo, Sir Tony Robinson, Chris Tarrant, Julie Walters, Tim Dunn or Rob Bell on your tour of mainline, heritage or lost railways.

The environmental benefits from train travel are in sharp focus in the lead-up to the COP26 Climate Change Conference.

I’ve spent the last week promoting the “Go Green By Train” message for the Community Rail Network.

There are huge savings in CO2 to be made from travelling by train rather than driving a car or taking a plane.

Delegates at the Climate Change summit will travel on a train powered entirely from batteries as part of the next generation of vehicles on display.

That is, if they can get to Glasgow because RMT Union representatives are threatening to go on strike during the conference which would lead to the cancellation of ScotRail services.

If ever there was a time when Joanna Lumley was needed to reprise her role as Purdey in The New Avengers and kick ass, surely it’s now.