Across the continent, trains are on average twice as expensive as flying, but in the U.K. they are four times more expensive, the research notes. To reach its conclusions, Greenpeace compared the cost of train and plane tickets for 112 routes between large cities in 27 European countries.

UK rail fares are widely considered among the most expensive in the world, particularly for "walk-up" or peak-time travel. In March 2026, despite a recent government "fare freeze" on regulated tickets like season passes and off-peak returns, the headline prices for long-distance travel remain high compared to mainland Europe. For example, a last-minute return ticket from London to Manchester can often exceed £200, whereas similar distances in France or Spain might cost a fraction of that due to heavy government subsidies. However, the UK system is highly "bifurcated"—while the base price is high, the "Advance" ticket system and the use of Railcards (like the 16-25 or Two Together cards) can reduce costs by 33% to 50%. In 2026, many savvy travelers also use "split-ticketing" apps to legally find cheaper fares by buying multiple tickets for different legs of the same journey. While the network is criticized for its cost, the UK has some of the highest frequencies and most extensive rural coverage in Europe, leading to a "high price, high service" model that continues to be a point of national political debate.