The Rising Cost of Flying vs. Rail: Why Trains Still Struggle to Compete in Europe
For years, budget airlines have dominated European travel, but a recent Greenpeace study reveals a troubling trend: flying is often cheaper than taking the train, even for relatively short distances. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s actively hindering efforts to reduce carbon emissions and build a sustainable transportation future. As travel experts, we’ve been tracking this imbalance and its implications for years.
The Price Disparity: A Closer look
Greenpeace’s analysis, examining cross-border routes, found that on over half of them, flights were the more affordable option for at least six out of nine days. They meticulously checked fares across various booking windows to ensure accuracy.However,there’s a glimmer of hope.
Currently, trains hold the price advantage on roughly 39% of cross-border routes, particularly in central and Eastern Europe – think the Baltics and Poland. Unfortunately, in major travel hubs like France, Spain, and the UK, trains are frequently enough significantly more expensive, costing up to 95% more than flights.
Why is Flying So Cheap?
Several factors contribute to this price gap, but a key issue is artificially suppressed airfares. These low costs actively encourage travelers to choose planes over more environmentally kind options. Consider this:
Flights emit five times more CO2 per passenger kilometer than trains, on average.
When powered by 100% renewable electricity, trains have over 80 times less environmental impact.Positive Trends and Emerging Solutions
Despite the challenges, the situation isn’t entirely bleak. Since 2023, the percentage of routes where trains are cheaper has increased by 14 percentage points. This is a positive sign,driven by several factors:
Night Train Revival: Europe is witnessing a resurgence in night train services,offering a convenient and sustainable alternative to flying. (You can learn more about the new Belgium-Germany-Austria-Italy route here). National Policies: Some countries, like Germany, are implementing climate-friendly policies that make train travel more competitive. Within Germany, train travel is now almost always cheaper than flying.
Airport Fees and Airline concerns
Interestingly, even low-cost airlines are voicing concerns. Ryanair and EasyJet have complained about rising airport fees across Europe, leading to route cancellations and base closures.
Such as:
Ryanair has scrapped routes and closed bases in protest.
EasyJet reports that airport costs represent about 20% of thier operating expenses – second only to fuel. Berlin is cited as one of EasyJet’s most expensive airport locations.
What Needs to Change?
Greenpeace, and many travel sustainability advocates, are calling for urgent action from EU and national governments. The core message is clear: trains need to become the default choice for European travel, not a last resort.here’s what needs to happen:
Policy Intervention: Governments must address the imbalance in pricing and incentivize rail travel.
Infrastructure Investment: Continued investment in rail infrastructure is crucial to improve speed, reliability, and capacity. Fairer Taxation: Consider implementing taxes or levies on air travel to reflect its environmental cost.
As Herwig Schuster,a Greenpeace campaigner,succinctly put it: “Every route where a plane is cheaper than a train is a political failure.” We agree. Europe has the potential to lead the way in sustainable travel, but it requires a fundamental shift in priorities and a commitment to making trains the easiest and most affordable option for your next journey.
Resources:
Ryanair route cancellations
[Germany’s airline policy concerns](https://www.thelocal.de/20240425/germ
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