Cost of Ecofriendly Trains Exceeds Flight Prices, according to Greenpeace - Railway trips promoted as eco-friendly frequently cost more than flying, according to Greenpeace.
In a recent study, environmental organisation Greenpeace has compared the prices of train and flight journeys across 142 European city connections, with a maximum distance of 1,500 kilometers. The findings suggest a significant shift in favour of train travel compared to a 2023 study.
The study, which did not consider the costs for baggage transport or advantages like frequent flyer programs or BahnCards, found that on 111 comparable routes, 41 percent were cheaper by train than by airplane, up from 27 percent in the previous study. This accounts for 46.5% of the connections examined.
For domestic train journeys within Germany, the train is cheaper on 15 out of 31 routes (48 percent). Notable examples include the train-Hamburg to Munich and Stuttgart to Berlin connections, which are always cheaper by train than by airplane. On the other hand, on 66 out of 142 connections, the train journey is more expensive than a flight.
In international train connections to and from Germany, the airplane is often cheaper, especially towards Western Europe. However, train journeys to Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, and Belgium are almost always cheaper than flying.
The price comparison has shifted in favour of train journeys due to indirect tax advantages for airlines in Deutschland. Fluggesellschaften receive tax benefits on kerosene and flight ticket taxation, as kerosene for aviation is largely tax-free, which contrasts with the more heavily taxed train fares. These advantages apply to all airlines, not just specific companies, and are intended to promote the competitiveness of air travel. However, a targeted tax offset for individual airlines is not explicitly documented in Germany. The tax exemption on kerosene can be considered a state tax advantage that favours flights over trains.
Greenpeace, who assumes that the fare is an important criterion for consumers when choosing a means of transport, is demanding higher taxes on flight travels and advantages for train customers. Lena Donat, a transport expert, echoed this sentiment, stating that it's unfair that longer train journeys are expensive while flights are subsidized.
For the remaining 7% of connections, no clear statement can be made. The study compared one-way ticket prices at nine booking points in time for the 142 city connections. It's important to note that this analysis did not consider the costs for baggage transport or advantages like frequent flyer programs or BahnCards.
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