Consumer group which? discovered surprising cost differences between UK train travel and domestic flights over the Easter holidays.
Over the Easter holidays, the consumer champion researched the cheapest options for traveling by train and air on ten routes in Great Britain.
The watchdog’s research found that train tickets are 35 percent more expensive. Only three out of ten routes are cheaper by train.
Which? shows that the biggest price difference was for the route from Edinburgh to Bournemouth, a journey which costs a whopping 239 per cent more than by train. The cheapest available return train fare is £127, even if you use shared tickets for the outward journey and an advance fare for the return journey. A return ticket, on the other hand, costs just £38.
Which? noted that the Newcastle to Southampton route is one of only three routes cheaper by train, with a return ticket costing £107 when split tickets are used, compared to £175 for a flight. However, the return journey by train would take more than 11 hours, more than four times the flight time.
Which? researched the cheapest options for rail and air travel over the Easter holidays on ten UK routes and found train tickets to be 35 per cent more expensive
The only other two trips that What? train journeys were cheaper on the Edinburgh to Newquay and Bristol to Aberdeen routes. The former costs 13 per cent less at £250 return, but will take more than seven times as long, with a total journey time of 22 hours and two minutes. In contrast, traveling from Bristol to Aberdeen by train costs just over a fifth less (21 per cent) but takes 18.5 hours back, more than six times as long as by plane.
From tomorrow (April 1), the cut in air passenger tax (APD) on domestic flights will halve flight tax bills from £13 to £6.50 per passenger, giving airlines an incentive to start more domestic routes.
Which? believes this could further widen the fare gap between rail and air travel, especially after the recent 5.9% increase in rail fares.
As a result, we may soon see an increase in pollution from traveling between the UK as fewer passengers choose to travel by train.
The consumer group also examined the carbon emissions of rail and air travel and found that air travel emits twice as much CO2 on average (118 percent more) than rail travel.
While a traveler’s wallet would be significantly cheaper to fly from Edinburgh to Bournemouth, the environmental cost is much higher. Which? got it A flight on this route emits an average of 218 kg of CO2 per person, 131 percent more than a train journey.
Which? found that the biggest difference in air pollution when comparing rail and air travel was between Newcastle and Southampton. CO2 emissions per person on this route average 64.5 kg by train and 242 kg per person by plane, 275 percent more.
research with what? found that air travel on average emits twice as much CO2 (118 percent more) as rail travel.
Overall, according to Atmosfair, the most polluting flight routes were Bristol to Aberdeen (351kg CO2), Edinburgh to Newquay (319kg CO2) and London to Inverness (306kg CO2).
In response to the question, Rory Boland, Which? Travel Editor, said: “As travelers become increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of their travel, many are faced with a difficult trade-off between the price of their ticket and the cost to the planet, as only three in ten journeys seek cheaper train training. ” .
“Those who prefer to travel by train can take measures to save costs. Take the time to compare dates and times to see if cheaper fares are available and check which train tickets you may be eligible for, as this could save you up to a third on the ticket price. You may be able to save even more by checking if split ticket is an option for your chosen route.’
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
