Why is it more expensive to take a train than fly?

Why are flights often cheaper than train tickets? “There's an unfair taxing system which makes trains more expensive,” said Herwig Schuster, a transport campaigner at Greenpeace who authored the ticket prices report. “There are a lot of polluting subsidies on the airline side.”



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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.

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Taking a train at any longer distances will increase your travel time dramatically for no cost savings. Driving a car makes the most sense if you have multiple passengers or need a car at your destination, but as your trip gets longer, flying becomes more and more financially advantageous.

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For the shortest trip, driving is slightly more economical than flying. But for the longer cross-country trip, flying is far cheaper. And keep in mind that this only considers solo drivers. Families or friends traveling in one vehicle can save money by driving, even on longer routes.

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Why are UK trains so expensive? One of the main reasons the price of train tickets keeps rising is the privatisation of rail networks, with every private company striving to make a profit.

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Choose the right transport when planning a cheap vacation
  • Use public transport or walk to take a low-cost trip. ...
  • Rent a bicycle and travel inexpensively. ...
  • Hitchhiking, the cheapest way to travel abroad. ...
  • Take an overnight train for a low-budget trip. ...
  • Rent a campervan and travel cheap around the world.


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Every year, as train prices go up, car rental becomes a better option for budget travelers in Europe. While solo car travel is expensive, three or four people sharing a rented car will usually travel cheaper than the same group using rail passes.

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Flights are generally the most inexpensive between four months and three weeks before your departure date. Seasonal changes and holidays can create price fluctuations in ticket prices. The day of the week that you book a flight does not affect the price.

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Average U.S. airfares are more than 6.5% lower in September 2023 than they were in September 2019, meaning prices aren't just lower than they were last year, but even lower than what they were pre-pandemic.

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The train is the easiest way to travel the UK but catching buses with Megabus or National Express is often the cheapest way to travel the UK. Is the train cheaper than the bus in England? Often the bus is cheaper, especially when moving between smaller cities.

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Travel by Bus and Coach in the UK Traveling by bus and coach in the UK offers a cost-effective and scenic way to explore the country, and is usually the go-to option for budget travelers. Numerous companies operate extensive networks, connecting cities, towns, and tourist destinations.

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The best way to travel around England for budget visitors is by coach, but journey times are often much longer than by train or car and the routes aren't always convenient. Bus travel is cheapest when booked direct: the two main operators are National Express and Megabus. Both offer competitive prices.

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The cheapest city to fly into is London, and the cheapest airport serving this city at the moment is London Heathrow.

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The cheapest airport in United Kingdom is London Gatwick – we've found flights from $303.

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The 15 cheapest places to fly to from the UK
  • Oslo, Norway. ...
  • Barcelona, Spain. ...
  • Madrid, Spain. ...
  • Berlin, Germany. ...
  • Brussels, Belgium. ...
  • Dublin, Republic of Ireland. ...
  • Budapest, Hungary. ...
  • Cork, Republic of Ireland. It's another one of those places that perhaps you read about but think, oh I'll go to Dublin instead.


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The Luton Dart will replace the Heathrow Express as the most expensive rail journey in Britain. Tickets for the route amount to £3.70 per mile and a four-minute one-way trip between Luton Airport Parkway Station and the terminal will cost £4.90 with no discount for return trips.

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You may have seen news stories doing the rounds about how the new Luton Dart has become the priciest route in Britain. The £300 million line, which opened this week, charges £4.90 – or £3.77 per mile.

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There's no sugarcoating it: Airfare is expensive. And while waiting until the last minute might sound like a good idea, it typically is cheaper to book your flights in advance. We are seeing fewer last-minute deals than in years past, especially when it comes to flights, a Kayak spokesperson tells Travel + Leisure.

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The recommended layover time for domestic flights is normally one hour. However, as previously stated, you may require longer if your flights are booked with two different airlines, if you are traveling to a very busy airport or if you require special assistance.

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