Flying across Europe often remains cheaper than travelling by train, despite the aviation sector’s far greater climate impact. A new Greenpeace study, published this week, found that flights are cheaper than trains on more than half of international routes within the continent.
The analysis, titled Flying cheap, paying dear: How airlines undercut rail and fuel the climate crisis, examined 109 cross-border routes in 31 European countries, alongside 33 domestic routes under 1,500 km – journeys where both air and rail are realistic alternatives. Researchers compared fares across nine different days and three booking periods. They concluded that flying is cheaper in 54% of cross-border cases, while rail only dominates on 29 routes, many of them in Central and Eastern Europe.
The contrast is starkest on the Barcelona–London connection, where a train journey can cost 26 times more than a flight. On a specific date analysed, a plane ticket was available for just €14.99, compared to €389 for the train.
Southern and Western Europe among the worst performers
The study paints a particularly grim picture for Western and Southern Europe. France (95%), Spain (92%), the United Kingdom (90%) and Italy (88%) were among the countries where trains are most often more expensive than flights. Hungary also ranked poorly at 71%.
By contrast, rail fares are far more competitive in Central and Eastern Europe. Lithuania leads the ranking, with all routes from Vilnius cheaper by train. In Poland, trains were cheaper on 89% of the routes analysed, while in Slovenia the figure stood at 80%.
Belgium performed in the lower middle range, with 60% of examined routes from Brussels more expensive by rail, putting it on par with Romania and Norway. Trains to Hamburg, Zurich and Berlin can still be found at lower cost, but connections to Madrid, Vienna, Copenhagen or Budapest are almost always pricier than flying.
A distorted system
The findings point to a structural imbalance between aviation and rail. According to Greenpeace, this is not the result of efficiency but of a tax system that privileges aviation. Airlines benefit from untaxed fuel and VAT exemptions on international tickets, while rail operators face rising energy costs, full VAT, and significant infrastructure charges.
“Even as the climate crisis worsens, Europe’s tax system continues to favour the most polluting way to travel,” said Herwig Schuster, transport campaigner for Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe. “It is absurd that a flight from Barcelona to London can cost just €15 while the train on the same route is up to 26 times more expensive.”
This distortion drives passengers towards aviation despite its disproportionate environmental cost. Flights emit five times more CO₂ per passenger kilometre than trains, Greenpeace notes. If powered entirely by renewable energy, trains could be over 80 times less polluting than planes.
Domestic versus international routes
While trains struggle to compete on international services, the picture is more balanced domestically. On 70% of the 33 domestic routes studied, rail was found to be the cheaper option. This reflects the fact that many governments support national rail services more effectively than international ones, where cross-border fragmentation in ticketing and operations continues to discourage passengers.
Signs of improvement
The latest report also highlights some progress compared to Greenpeace’s 2023 analysis. The share of routes where trains are cheaper has risen by 14 percentage points to 41%. This improvement is largely due to the reduction of ultra-cheap flight connections and a slower rise in rail ticket prices.
The revival of night trains has also helped make rail a more attractive option for long-distance journeys. As reported by Travel Tomorrow, several European operators are investing in new night services that combine convenience with climate-friendly travel. Still, the report stresses that these efforts remain insufficient against the weight of aviation’s subsidies.
Greenpeace calls for political action
For Greenpeace, the continued dominance of cheap flights reflects a political failure. The organisation is urging the European Union and national governments to end aviation subsidies, simplify international train booking systems, and step up investment in rail infrastructure. It also advocates for the introduction of “climate tickets” – affordable flat-rate passes valid across public transport networks within and between countries.
“Every route where a plane is cheaper than a train is a political failure,” Schuster said. “Europe must make rail the cheapest and easiest option, not the last resort.”
