Train travel is often faster, cheaper and significantly more environmentally friendly than flying on many of Europe’s busiest routes, according to a new analysis by Omio. The study compared total door-to-door journey times across 25 popular European rail and air routes, taking into account airport transfers, security checks, boarding, baggage collection and onward travel.
The findings show that travellers can reach their destinations more quickly by rail on many journeys while also cutting carbon emissions and, in some cases, reducing travel costs by more than 50%. The analysis draws on data from Omio’s network of more than 1,000 transport providers across Europe.
One of the strongest examples is the route between London and Paris, where high-speed rail outperformed air travel by a considerable margin. According to Omio, passengers travelling by train complete the journey door to door in 156 minutes, compared with 255 minutes by plane, saving a total of 99 minutes.
The time savings are largely due to the different travel experience offered by rail. City centre stations eliminate lengthy airport transfers, while shorter check-in procedures and the absence of extensive security queues allow passengers to spend less time preparing for departure. Once travellers arrive, they also avoid waiting for checked baggage and lengthy transfers from airports to city centres.
Environmental benefits are equally significant. Omio’s analysis found that travelling by train between London and Paris reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 95.5% compared with flying, reinforcing rail’s growing role in more sustainable European travel.
Spain also featured prominently in the research, particularly the route between Madrid and Seville. Interest in Seville continues to grow, with searches for “Seville Holiday” increasing by 90% over the past year. During the same period, searches for train travel between Madrid and Seville also recorded a breakout increase, reflecting rising demand for rail connections.
According to Omio, travellers on the Madrid to Seville route complete the journey in approximately 170 minutes by train compared with 250 minutes by air, saving around 80 minutes. Rail travel on the route also produces 76.2% lower carbon emissions than flying.
Price is another important advantage. Omio estimates that a return train ticket between Madrid and Seville costs around £9, while an equivalent return flight costs about £34. That represents a saving of roughly £25, or around 73%, before taking into account additional airline charges such as baggage fees.
Rail passengers also benefit from more generous luggage allowances than many airlines. Travellers can often avoid extra charges associated with checked baggage or cabin bag size restrictions, making train travel a more predictable option for families and longer trips.
Several other domestic and regional routes also demonstrated substantial advantages for rail. The Madrid to Valencia route offered the largest time saving in the study, allowing passengers to save around 110 minutes while paying approximately 75% less for a return journey than flying.
Italian high-speed rail also compared favourably with air travel. The Rome to Florence route saved passengers around 97 minutes and reduced return fares by approximately 75%. Travellers between Milan and Florence saved about 100 minutes while benefiting from return fares roughly 83% lower than comparable flights.
The report highlights how Europe’s expanding high-speed rail network continues to strengthen its position as an attractive alternative to short-haul aviation. With stations located in city centres, fewer pre-departure formalities and frequent departures, rail offers travellers greater flexibility alongside shorter overall journey times.
As governments and transport operators continue investing in rail infrastructure and sustainable mobility, studies such as Omio’s suggest that travellers increasingly no longer have to choose between convenience, affordability and environmental responsibility. For many of Europe’s most popular routes, high-speed rail is now delivering all three advantages while giving passengers more time to enjoy their destination and less time navigating airports.
