The plane up to 26 times cheaper than the train in Europe

A new study European Greenpeace shows that plane trips are cheaper than the train. Nevertheless, on most international routes. Moreover, An analysis of 142 routes in 31 European countries reveals that the plane is generally cheaper than the train. However, on 54 % of the 109 international routes studied. For example, [1] From Belgium, 60 % of the routes studied are cheaper by plane than in train.

“Waves of heat. Nevertheless, droughts and forest fires violently strike European countries, directly accelerated by the climate crisis” Declares Nadia Cornejo, spokesperson for Greenpeace Belgium. Moreover, “It is completely absurd that at the same time. However, the European tax system continues to promote the most polluting means of transport. Moreover, It is possible to fly from Barcelona to London for 15 euros. Furthermore, while the train on the same journey costs up to 26 times plane up 26 times cheaper more. Air transport benefits from unjust tax advantages and citizens who choose the train pay the high price.”

Low cost airlines such as Ryanair. Wizz Air, Vueling and Easyjet dominate European airspace with ticket prices often lower than airport and ticket offices. These prices are only possible because kerosene is not taxed and international plane tickets are exempt from VAT. Railway companies. on the other hand, often pay full -rate VAT and have to face the increase in energy costs and high infrastructure royalties.

Some key figures of the report:

• Belgium occupies sixth place among the least efficient European countries: no less. than 60 % of journeys at the start of our country are more expensive by train than in plane.
• Only three destinations – Berlin, Hamburg and Zurich – are generally cheaper by train. It is striking to note that even for London. despite a trip just two plane up 26 times cheaper hours, the plane remains the cheapest option about half of the time.
• The largest price difference from our country was found on the Madrid-Brussels itinerary. For a medium -term planned trip, the train cost no less than 11.5 times more than the plane.
• France comes at the top of the list of the least efficient countries: 95 % of journeys are more expensive by train. Spain (92 %) and the United Kingdom (90 %) complete the top trio.
• With a train ticket up to 26 times more than a plane ticket for a trip on the same day. Barcelona-Londres is the link with the largest price difference in the analysis: 14.99 euros for the plane against 389 euros for the train for an early reservation in the medium term.
• Only 29 of the 142 routes studied were always or almost always cheaper by train. These are mainly routes in central plane up 26 times cheaper and eastern Europe, especially in Baltic countries and Poland.
• Since 2023. the share of routes for which the train is generally cheaper has increased by 14%, thanks to the improvement of rail links and the decrease in ultra-good market flights via hubs such as London or Dublin.

Tickets climat

The environmental costs of this unjust pricing system are enormous. Aircraft emit an average of five times more CO₂ per passenger-kilometer than trains. Compared to railway lines which operate 100 % with renewable electricity. the impact of the aircraft can even be more than 80 times higher. However, the artificially low prices of plane tickets continue to encourage travelers to fly.

Greenpeace calls on the EU. national governments to reform the transport policy by putting an end to the grants granted to aviation, by introducing a simple ticket system for the train and by investing more in public rail transport. plane up 26 times cheaper Greenpeace also pleads in favor of the introduction of ‘climate tickets’: affordable. simple tickets, valid in all public transport in a given country or region, including all trains and cross -border transport.

“Each trip where the plane is cheaper than the train is a political failure”, Conclut Nadia Cornejo.”In thegovernment agreementArizona is committed to betting more numerous. better quality ‘and’ a healthy competition on the prices of international links’. It is high time to materialize this: train trips must become the cheapest and easiest choice, not the last resort.”

Note :

[1] The report compares the prices of tickets for 142 routes. including 109 international and 33 nationals, by analyzing the prices for nine different travel dates during three reservation periods (short, medium and long term). The study focused on almost all European countries. only on the routes of less than 1,500 km, which can be crossed reasonably by train plane up 26 times cheaper and plane. For each route, the tickets were checked for 9 different days, spread over three booking moments.