It is a widely accepted theory that flying is much cheaper than taking the train in Britain, and this is certainly often true when comparing ticket prices.
But rail industry bosses have published a new study which they say shows that travelling by train can be up to 70 per cent cheaper on similar routes than taking the plane, when additional costs such as checked luggage and seat selection are taken into account.
They also said that air travel takes longer than rail travel from door to door on four of the six domestic routes examined, and rail is up to 17 times greener than flying.
Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said trains are £250 cheaper than flights on the London to Manchester route, which has seven times as many rail services as flights.
The routes examined were London to Glasgow, London to Edinburgh, Manchester to London, Aberdeen to Manchester, London to Newcastle and Edinburgh to Exeter.
But there was no mention of the prolonged strike action that has paralysed services in recent years; the poor performance that saw cancellations in England and Wales rise by 8 per cent last year; or average train fares that rose by 5 per cent in March.
This comes as government legislation designed to help nationalise train operations in the UK is now closer to becoming law after the Labour Party won the election.
Rail Delivery Group’s study compared the cost of a city-to-city journey by train and by plane
The RDG said travelling by train offers greater convenience and flexibility, with more frequent departures and direct access to city centres, and is quicker than flying on four of the six routes in terms of total journey time, including airport transfers and security checks.
The study, released last Friday, analyzed average fare costs between selected routes for a one-way trip departing on August 5 and a one-way trip returning on August 9, yielding a combined total cost for both one-way trips.
The London to Glasgow journey cost £171 by rail and £248 by air, including £196 for tickets and £52 for baggage and seat allocation. The London to Edinburgh journey cost £156 by rail or £260 by air.
Manchester to London was £91 by rail and £341 by air; London to Newcastle was £145 by rail and £384 by air; Edinburgh to Exeter was £220 by rail and £297 by air; and Aberdeen to Manchester was much closer at £224 by rail or £234 by air.
The RDG study also looked at the difference in total travel time between trains and planes.
The report states that “the public is often told that flying domestically is faster, cheaper and more convenient.”
But the RDG described this as a “myth amplified by quick comparisons that often ignore the time taken for airport security checks, as well as the additional costs for baggage and seat selection.”
The study notes that many comparisons do not take into account the time it takes to get to and from the airport and “forget that train stations are in central and convenient locations, while airports are located on the outskirts of our cities.”
The RDG noted that air travel often involves travel to get to the airport from the city centre. He also said passengers should take into account the recommended time to be at the airport before the scheduled departure time, as well as the estimated 30 minutes for disembarking and the return trip to the city centre.
This RDG chart compares the number of direct services between destinations
In total, this can add three and a half hours to the journey. Flying from city centre to city centre was found to take longer on four of the six routes analysed.
The four fastest train routes were London to Glasgow (15 minutes faster by train); London to Edinburgh (20 minutes); London to Manchester (two hours and 24 minutes); and London to Newcastle (two hours and three minutes).
However, Aberdeen to Manchester was 56 minutes faster by air, and Edinburgh to Exeter was two hours and 42 minutes faster by air.
The RDG added that environmental considerations must also be taken into account: he said that travelling by train for business between Edinburgh and London is 17 times greener than travelling by air.
The study found that in 2019, 3.4 million people travelled between London and Edinburgh by air, making it the second busiest air corridor in Europe, producing 244,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
The RDG also compared the environmental impact of travelling by train compared to that of flying.
Their data compared business travel by air and by train, suggesting that travelling from London to Glasgow is seven times greener by train, from London to Newcastle is 12 times greener and from London to Manchester is nine times greener.
The report said there was no comparative data on carbon emissions from planes and trains available for the Edinburgh to Exeter and Aberdeen to Manchester routes.
The RDG also said a Railcard would offer a third off rail travel on every route, reducing the price of a London to Glasgow ticket from £171 to £113, and that of a London to Edinburgh ticket from £156 to £103.
The flight from Manchester to London goes from £91 to £60; the flight from Aberdeen to Manchester from £224 to £148; the flight from London to Newcastle from £145 to £96; and the flight from Edinburgh to Exeter from £220 to £145.
The RDG also said airport transfers were a significant cost for customers, although these were not included in its cost analysis in the report.
London’s King’s Cross station, where trains leave for Newcastle and Edinburgh, on July 19
Their research showed the average price of a city centre minicab was £122 to £228 for London Heathrow, £140 for Luton, £130 for Stansted, £113 for Gatwick and £75 to £85 for City.
Elsewhere, the price was between £55 and £70 for Manchester, £80 for Edinburgh, £71 for Glasgow, £60 for Newcastle and Exeter, and £40 to £50 for Aberdeen.
The report concluded: “For too long it has been said that flying domestically is cheaper and quicker. However, when a real cost comparison is made, travelling by train is considerably cheaper.
‘Train is a more affordable, sustainable and comfortable way to travel. Our research highlights the many benefits that rail offers our customers when travelling within Great Britain.
‘We have selected six domestic routes that offer both trains and flights to provide a fair comparison of costs, carbon emissions and service availability.’
The study recommended waiting times at airports for flights (London Stansted airport is shown in the image)
And RDG chief executive Jaqueline Starr said: “It’s time to rethink domestic travel this summer. In a similar comparison to air travel, taking the train is often a cheaper, more sustainable and comfortable way to travel, with free baggage allowance and seat selection included in most fares.”
‘Make the most of summer by travelling by train and experiencing real-life moments, from family holidays to catching up on the way to work. The train connects us to these important moments safely, quickly and comfortably.’
Prices were taken between July 8 and 10 directly from rail and air operators.
The RDG said it received advice from the University of Birmingham’s Birmingham Rail Research and Education Centre, which “assisted with the development of the costing methodology in this report”, but the insights provided were based on the RDG’s own analysis.
The organization also said its analysis noted that fares can “vary depending on how far in advance the reservation is made, the date chosen and the time of travel.”
The study claims that trains are £250 cheaper than flights on the London to Manchester route, which has seven times as many rail services as flights. Manchester’s Piccadilly station is pictured
Patricia Yates, chief executive of VisitBritain/VisitEngland, said: ‘Travelling by rail is a cost-effective and sustainable way to explore Britain this summer.
‘Rail travel opens up visitors to iconic destinations and attractions with hidden gems and stunning scenery revealed along the way.
‘The ease and convenience of hopping on a train means visitors can access less-explored destinations and local businesses, in a relaxing and environmentally friendly way, encouraging visitors to discover more and stay longer, boosting local economies.’
And Silviya Barrett, from the Campaign for Better Transport, said: ‘Choosing to travel more sustainably wherever we can is one of the most effective things we can do to reduce our impact on the planet.
‘This new report supports our own research and shows that taking the train not only saves carbon emissions, but can also get you there quicker, save you the hassle of airport security and leave you with more money to spend this summer.’
Meanwhile, an independent study by rail operator TransPennine Express (TPE) published today found that 67 per cent of Britons are struggling to afford a holiday abroad this year and are instead opting for UK breaks in August.
The company’s study found that 25 percent will not go on holiday abroad this year due to rising costs.
Some 35 percent said the price of flights to popular destinations had become too expensive and 20 percent said it was the first time they had struggled to afford a holiday abroad.
According to TPE research, the top UK holiday destination will be the Lake District, with 38 per cent of Brits heading there this month, closely followed by York (19 per cent) and Edinburgh (19 per cent).
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