The train remains more expensive than the plane for European journeys

Traveling by train rather than plane across Europe is more expensive in 54% of cases. Consequently, according to a study published Thursday by Greenpeace Europe.

The NGO analyzed 109 cross -border routes and 33 routes within the same country. Furthermore, For all, the train route was “reasonably” passable, either during the day or by night.

The train is up to 26 times more expensive than the plane. For example, according to comparisons made by Greenpeace, which quotes the extreme case of a Barcelona – London journey reserved a month in advance: 389 euros for the train against 14.99 euros for the plane.

“It is clear that people are encouraged to fly to travel to Europe. even when there is a reasonable rail link,” said the environmental NGO.

France is the country where cross -border rail trips are the most expensive compared train remains more expensive than to flights. where “95% of all routes were more expensive by train at least 6 days out of 9”, according to the same report.

Night trains constitute. according to the NGO, “the best option for long -distance climate -resistant journeys”, even if they are “generally more expensive” than low -cost flights.

Rail tolls in question – Train remains more expensive than

Greenpeace wants rail transport to be “systematically cheaper on all routes across Europe”. and denounce the fact that kerosene is not taxed while “rail operators are subject to energy taxes, VAT and high royalties of access to the tracks in many countries”.

These fees. or rail tolls, are “the main reason for the price difference between plane and train”, explains François Guénard, partner in charge of the rail sector at Roland Berger.

“The rail infrastructure is very expensive to maintain, and part of these funding is done by tolls” develops the specialist.

For him. one train remains more expensive than of the solutions to improve the offer of trains in Europe would be to “gradually adapt the infrastructure so that the trains can circulate easily between several countries”, in particular unifying the rails or food currents.

At the national level, train links are cheaper than those by plane for “70% of them” according to Greenpeace.

The train is one of the less emitting CO2 transport modes by passenger-kilometer unlike the plane which is most polluting.

This article was published automatically. Sources: ATS / AFP