Train tickets are on average twice as expensive as plane tickets

2023-07-21 02:08:21

Train tickets are, on average, twice as expensive as plane tickets in Europe, despite the fact that the latter cause five times more greenhouse emissions on average, according to a report prepared by Greenpeace (1), in which he calls on the EU and national governments to do everything possible to make trains more affordable than flights as they mean more sustainable transport.

All the routes analyzed for Spain, the train costs almost four times more than the plane. Traveling from London to Barcelona can be up to 30 times more expensive by train than by plane.

The global climate impact of flying can be more than 80 times worse than taking a train

According to the organization’s analysis, on average, all the routes analyzed for Spain, the train costs almost four times more than the plane. “Traveling from London to Barcelona can be up to 30 times more expensive by train than by plane. However, the global climate impact of flying can be more than 80 times worse than taking a train,” the study states.

“Traveling by train must be more affordable than polluting flights” / Image: Greenpeace

“Unfair and aggressive” pricing strategies

The report has compared the plane and train tickets of 112 different European routes in nine different time periods, after which it has concluded that flights are cheaper than trains on 71% of the routes analysed. Besides, 23 European routes of those studied are cheaper by train than by plane and only six of them are operated by low-cost airlines.

Likewise, the study reveals that low-cost airlines operate 79% of the routes analyzed and in most cases are cheaper than rail due to their “unfair and aggressive” pricing strategies.

“We are in this situation because the airlines benefit from outrageous tax advantages.

Precarious jobs, multiple extra costs for customers, subsidizing airlines with taxpayer money, kerosene exemptions and reduced taxes.”

Therefore, according to the study, there is a “unfair regulation of long-distance travel” that “is undermining European rail”. “We are in this situation because the airlines benefit from outrageous tax advantages. These exaggeratedly cheap flights are only possible because the real cost is not being paid. Precarious jobs, multiple additional costs for customers, subsidies to airlines with taxpayers’ money, kerosene exemptions and reduced taxes,” denounces the coordinator of the Greenpeace mobility campaign, Cristina Arjona.

“To be able to travel sustainably, citizens deserve to have transportation options that are clean, efficient and affordable, that do not harm the climate, people or our planet“Arjona added.

Climate tickets or single transport allowances

Another conclusion drawn from the report is that to reactivate the railway it is necessary to change “the existing unfair rules of the game.” Greenpeace has asserted that, in a context of climate emergencyrail needs to be made more affordable than air transport to drastically reduce carbon emissions. Greenhouse gases (GHG) produced by the fossil fuels.

In this sense, the organization has asked the national governments to introduce climate tickets or single transport passes, and has given as an example their payment T-takewhich he has said would encourage the use of the ten and public transport in general.

Calls for an end to subsidies to airlines and airports, starting with the phasing out of kerosene tax breaks

In parallel, they have called for an end to subsidies to airlines and airports, starting with the phasing out of tax exemptions for kerosene.

Greenpeace also warns that, although it had a regression from 2020 to 2022, air traffic is returning to its pre-pandemic levelswhile the population faces unprecedented heat waves and droughts. In addition, he has reminded governments to discuss these financial measures and act in favor of “an affordable, reliable and respectful mobility system” with the environment in Europe.

References (1) Airline versus train ticket prices: A European-wide analysis. Greenpeace.