Why train travel in Europe is more complicated and expensive, even though people want to give up flying

Across the continent, it is cheaper and easier to travel by plane than by train, which poses a problem for an increasing number of people who wish to travel sustainably. The big question is: why is it harder to travel by train than by plane in Europe?

It seems like a question in contrast to what is happening in the European railway system. Throughout the continent, train travel is on the rise, notes BBC, pointing out that over the past year, night train routes in Europe have continued to expand, fueled by the Nightjet network from Austria, which now operates several such routes, including Vienna-Venice and Paris-Berlin.

Eurail, the company operating Interrail, one of the most well-known train travel brands on the continent, has recorded a 25% increase between 2022 and 2023 in the demand for European train travel and flight-free itineraries.

It is clear that people want to travel by train, despite higher prices and occasional inconveniences, and some governments prioritize this type of transportation. In France, there is a ban on short-haul flights if there is a rail alternative that takes less than two and a half hours. Spain is considering a similar ban as part of its climate action plan for 2050.

However, despite the increasing travel options and bookings, travelers still face challenges: prices are significantly higher than in air travel, and complicated booking conditions thwart the desire of many Europeans to travel sustainably.

What holds back trains in the race against planes

Justin Francis, director at Responsible Travel, the world’s largest company dedicated to eco-friendly travel, is an activist with a long history on this issue. In his view, there are several reasons why train travel is losing the battle with the European low-cost flight market.

The first reason is the different taxation of fuel in the two transport systems. “Why don’t we tax aviation fuel, which is a fossil fuel, so that we end up artificially making aviation cheaper? We should have a fair taxation system,” he said.

Diesel fuel used for trains is currently taxed at different levels throughout Europe, depending on the country.

Another factor, the expert believes, is the need to connect railway routes to make train travel faster and more efficient across Europe.

And travelers should be able to book more than 180 days in advance and the implementation of a single ticket purchasing system across the continent is necessary.

As long as they cannot make advance bookings, travel agencies and other tourism operators cannot guarantee attractive routes and plans and cannot provide convenient logistical and financial packages. Currently, in Europe, you cannot book train tickets more than six months in advance.

The last reason is that, according to EU regulations on package travel, if a tour operator makes a booking for a client on a holiday that involves rail transport and the train is delayed or canceled, the tour operator must refund the booking. “If I make bookings with an airline, and the airline is delayed or canceled, the airline refunds,” Francis points out.

For travelers, all these factors mean that a vacation involving train travel is not without problems, and you might find yourself on a platform, waiting for a connection longer than you would have liked.

Not to mention that it might be more expensive, and you will have to make the reservation on your own.

Moreover, because it is more difficult for travel agencies to book train tickets for their clients, there are fewer chances of getting a group rate and, consequently, better prices.

These issues, which do not exist in air travel, have not gone unnoticed at the governmental level.

A UE action plan was launched earlier this year, aiming to make train travel more sustainable, efficient, and better connected across the entire continent. It is a step towards harmonizing railway networks and finding better solutions, but without addressing the issue of taxation and, therefore, price balancing, it is not clear if the EU’s commitment to making train travel the best choice will have the desired impact, as noted by the BBC.

You have to be determined to travel by train, but it’s worth it

In these conditions, what can you do if you want to travel by train? For now, most Europeans have to fend for themselves.

Others, like the British, are luckier. Byway is a tour operator from the UK that organizes 100% flight-free trips in Europe. Using the personalized program JourneyAI, it plans and organizes trips, finding the best routes and avoiding logistical issues in different currencies, languages, and schedules. Clients also have a WhatsApp number to call in case of delays or other issues during the journey.

Those at Byway are convinced that trains have many advantages over planes, but the system needs improvement. “If you take time and money out of the trip planning process, who wouldn’t want to travel by train in Europe?” said James Hill, one of the company’s representatives.

Customers enjoy things that you don’t find when opting for a plane – slow travel, a retro aspect of life, and restaurant cars where you can eat comfortably while watching the passing landscapes.

The company specifies on its website that it would like to address the fare issue, also highlighting that airlines do not pay fuel taxes and that airplane tickets have a zero VAT rate, which means they can offer cheap fares. In contrast, Byway advocates for taxes on frequent flights, flight taxes, and the banning of domestic flights over short distances.

Additionally, Busbud is trying to simplify the planning of flight-free travel by eliminating the logistical complications of booking through multiple operators. The platform, considered a kind of Expedia for ground transportation (bus, coach, and train travel), offers a digital way to book trips from one point to another in the US, Canada, and Europe without using airplanes.

Although train travel may be slower, you don’t have to check-in two hours before, you avoid long security lines, and you arrive right in the heart of a city, not an hour away from it, as is the case with flights. This means that for many routes, you don’t lose much time on the journey, and the total travel time is represented by the journey itself.

T.D.