While airlines pay no kerosene tax or VAT across Europe, train operators pay energy taxes, VAT and high rail tolls in most European countries. In the U.K., operators are relieved of VAT, but are notorious for imposing some of the highest ticket prices in Europe.

Train journeys in the UK are famously expensive due to a unique combination of high operating costs, a complex privatized infrastructure, and a lower level of government subsidy compared to many European neighbors. While the government announced a regulated fare freeze for 2026, "unregulated" fares—which cover over half of all tickets—continue to rise to cover the aging network's maintenance. The UK's fragmented system involves separate companies for tracks, rolling stock, and operations, all of which aim for profit, leading to higher baseline prices. Additionally, the UK relies on a "user-pays" model rather than a taxpayer-funded one; while this reduces the burden on non-travelers, it results in some of the highest "walk-up" fares in the world. High demand on a system running at near-peak capacity also keeps prices high, as there is little incentive to lower fares on routes that are already consistently crowded.