Train or plane, which is faster on the main European routes?
¿Is it possible to travel faster than an airplane? Although many travelers may think otherwise, in more than 20 of the most important routes in Europe the duration of the flight is longer than the same journey by train. This is indicated by an analysis carried out by GoEuro in which the main routes of the continent are analyzed.
Up to 3 hours and 24 minutes can save travelers on the route London-París who decide to cross the English Channel through the Eurotúnel, extra time enough to go to the Palace of Versailles and get lost in the Gallery of Mirrors.
The train ride between the British capital and the city of love is the most time-saving of all Europe compared to the same route by plane, with a duration of 2 hours and 16 minutes, compared to the 5 hours and 40 minutes it takes to fly, taking into account security checks and travel time to and from airports and stations.
Other routes between European capitals where the train is the fastest option are Brussels-París, with a difference of 2 hours and 39 minutes; París-Lyon; with a saving of 1 hour and 28 minutes; and Bologna-Rome, where the flight takes 1 hour and 25 minutes longer.
NATIONAL ROUTES
The time differences between air and rail are also notable on domestic routes. Specifically, the AVE Madrid-Valencia can save up to almost an hour and a half compared to the plane. For its part, the railway connection Madrid Atocha and Barcelona Sants means a saving of one hour and 15 minutes compared to the aén aérea option. This same route from the capital and to the French border is also the longest national high-speed train journey in Europe.
Other national routes where the train is the fastest option are Madrid-Alicante (1:08 hours), Madrid-Sevilla (1:04 hours), Madrid-Málaga (48 minutes), and Valencia-Barcelona (35 minutes).
In addition to the length of the trip, waiting time at security checkpoints, travel to and from airports, which are generally located outside city centers, and check-in and baggage collection times are several of the reasons that slow down air travel.
EUROPE
France is a country where rail travel is considerably faster than air travel. The connection to the air Marseille-Lyon takes up to 3 hours and 10 minutes, compared to the train journey, which takes only 1 hour and 44 minutes. In the United Kingdom,London-Manchester is the national rail connection where travelers can save the most time, 1 hour and 24 minutes, compared to air travel.
For its part, in Italy the fastest train journey compared to the plane is Bologna-Rome, with a difference of 1 hour and 25 minutes. Moreover, the Rome–Turí route is the most sustainable in Europe, saving more than 200 kg of CO2 compared to the plane route.
BUS
The bus may also be the fastest option on some European routes. In particular, the road journey between Amsterdam and Brussels saves 45 minutes compared to air travel.&Amsterdam-Düsseldorf (20 minutes) and Brussels-París (15 minutes) are other routes where the plane takes longer than the bus trip.
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