We’re often told that flying domestically is faster, cheaper, and more convenient. This myth is amplified by quick comparisons that typically ignore the length of time security checks take at airports as well as ignoring add-on costs for luggage and seat selection.
Many don’t take into account of the time it takes to get to and from the airport and forget that railway stations are in central convenient locations, while airports sit on the outskirts of our cities.
There is also the environmental impact of these choices too. For example, travelling by train for business between Edinburgh and London is 17 times greener by rail than by plane, according to new Green Travel Pledge data.
Travelling long-distances across Britain presents a choice for customers between rail and domestic air travel.
For too long, the narrative has been that flying domestically is cheaper and faster. However, when you do a true cost comparison, rail travel is considerably cheaper.
Rail travel offers a more affordable, sustainable, and convenient way to travel. Our research highlights the many advantages that rail travel offers to our customers when travelling within Britain.
Routes compared
We have picked six domestic routes that offer both trains and flights to provide a fair comparison of costs, carbon emissions and availability of services.
CHEAPER: Travelling by rail can be up to 80% cheaper on similar routes than flying, when accounting for the additional cost of baggage and airport transfers.
MORE FLEXIBLE: There are 50% more rail services available per day from London to Edinburgh compared to flights (39 rail services compared to 26 flights).
*Costs of a return fare between selected routes, leaving on 27 May 2024 and returning on 31 May 2024. Prices correct at of 4 April 2024 and are taken directly from operators. Minicab prices have been based on TfL rates and The Airport Guide.
Booking ahead by rail delivers better value for customers
We have analysed the cost of taking similar trips across Britain in May 2024, noting that fares can vary depending on how far in advance the booking is made, the date chosen and the time of travel.
Whilst it is sometimes possible to purchase a cheap single airline fare between domestic British airports, the presentation of this as the total cost of travel fails to give customers the other associated costs including transfers, baggage, and seat selection.
In April 2024 we undertook a comparison between the air and rail fares for journeys taking place in May 2024.
Additional costs of airport transfers, seat selection and baggage make rail the right choice
Our report shows that travelling by train is significantly cheaper than flying when you take into account the additional costs of airport transfers, seat selection and baggage for domestic flights.
Top tips to save on a train ticket in Britain.
Book in advance wherever possible – most cheap tickets are released roughly 12 weeks prior to travel.
Get a Railcard to save around 1/3 off most rail journeys at www.railcard.co.uk
Claim a refund from the train operator if your journey is delayed or cancelled via Delay Repay.
Airport to city centre transfer costs
Airport transfers are a significant cost for customers, these additional costs are not always considered at the point of purchase (see Table 2). In contrast, rail delivers people into the heart of towns and cities across Britain, avoiding the added time and expense of airport transfers.
Table 2: Average return fare of a minicab between the airport and city centre.
These findings corroborate the research undertaken by Campaign for Better Transport’s report, ‘Plane speaking: moving journeys from air to rail’, which found that of the top 20 UK routes, half were found to be cheaper by rail.
More sustainable by rail
Rail is up to 17 times greener when travelling for business across Britain compared to flying.
Air travel is now the fastest-growing contributor to global warming (contributing between 4% - 9% of total emission output). Avoiding a flight when there are easy alternatives is often the biggest single thing that any individual can do to cut their carbon footprint and limit their impact on the environment. Rail is the cleanest public transport option available, contributing only 1.5% of the UK’s total transport emissions.
In 2019, 3.4 million people travelled between London and Edinburgh by air, making it the 2nd busiest air corridor in Europe producing 244,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Rail is one of the most environmentally friendly ways of transporting large numbers of people for long distances, at speed. Rail is intrinsically a sustainable form of transport as new carbon calculations, from Rail Delivery Group, demonstrate that travelling by rail between Edinburgh and London is 17 times greener than the equivalent flight.
We’ve used new Green Travel Pledge carbon data to compare a business trip by plane and by train.
Green Travel Pledge carbon emission data currently unavailable for Exeter to Edinburgh and Manchester to Aberdeen routes.
Overall city-to-city domestic travel time is quicker by rail
Overall city-to-city domestic travel time is quicker by rail
Travelling by plane takes longer than by train city-to-city for four out of the six domestic travel routes we looked at.
Cost is an important factor for customers, but for many travel time is of equal importance. At first glance, flying may seem to be the fastest way to get between two cities, but when looking at the total total time taken from city centre to city centre, rail delivers an equivalent or quicker option. Typically journeys by air involve additional trips to get to the airport from the city centre. You also need to take into account the recommended time to be at the airport before the scheduled departure time, as well as the 30 minutes to disembark, and the onward journey into the city centre. In total, this can add three and a half hours onto the journey. City centre to city centre flying takes longer on four of the six routes reviewed.
More flexible
There are 50% more rail services available per day from London to Edinburgh compared to flights (39 rail services compared to 26 flights).
Rail offers a more frequent service and can provide seamless connections to more destinations. Rail networks reach destinations that may be inaccessible by air, offering travellers the opportunity to explore remote villages, historic towns, and charming countryside retreats, that are often missed when travelling by air.
Average number of daily flights to Edinburgh compared to rail services
39 daily rail services from Central London to Edinburgh
This report demonstrates that travelling by rail is cheaper, more sustainable, and often quicker, compared to air, when travelling domestically. Rail travel is simpler, with fewer processes and more alternative routes available if things go wrong.
By choosing to take the train, you are helping the planet while also saving yourself from hidden costs for baggage and airport transfers. We hope the facts and figures contained in this report help to clear the air and show why taking the train is the best way to travel across Britain.