10 UK flight routes ‘should be cancelled’ because trains are cheaper and quicker

New research has suggested that replacing certain UK domestic flights with train travel could be quicker and cheaper. 

What’s more, choosing to use trains instead of planes on those routes could significantly reduce carbon emissions, saving over 724,000 tonnes of CO2 annually – prompting thoughts that maybe those flight routes should be cancelled. 

This reduction is equivalent to planting 34 million trees each year or removing 430,464 cars from the road for a year. 

A study carried out by SilverRail identified 10 domestic flight routes that could easily be swapped for rail journeys, offering similar or better travel times and often lower costs.

For instance, a flight from Gatwick to Edinburgh takes a total of 315 minutes (including travelling through security and check in), and costs around £70, while the train takes 297 minutes and costs £66.

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On the popular Heathrow to Edinburgh route, flying takes 340 minutes and costs £153, whereas the train takes 297 minutes at a cost of £66. 

Similarly, the Heathrow to Glasgow route totals 295 minutes by air and costs £106, while rail takes 310 minutes for £63.

Other routes with similar findings include flights from Heathrow to Newcastle, which takes 297 minutes and costs £147 compared to a 228-minute rail journey for just £45, and Luton to Edinburgh, where the train option is £5 cheaper and takes only 13 minutes longer than flying.

In fact, six of the 10 routes examined are faster by rail, and eight are cheaper, when taking into account travelling to the airport, checking baggage, going through security, waiting for the flight, and embarking and disembarking.

Brett Ring, SilverRail’s VP of Commercial, said: “In a world urgently calling for environmental change, it’s surprising how often rail travel is disregarded for domestic journeys within the UK.

“There are of course some routes where rail would take considerably longer and we’re not suggesting passengers inconvenience themselves in those cases. However, what we can do is make the public aware of the existence of 10 specific flight routes that could be effortlessly swapped for rail journeys, allowing them to make an informed decision from there in terms of how they choose to travel.”

Ring also pointed out that the rail industry must work to improve reliability, infrastructure, and passenger experience to make rail travel more appealing. 

He called for cooperation among industry stakeholders to “generate better awareness” and encourage informed travel choices.

SilverRail’s findings follow a growing trend where rail travel is beginning to replace air travel on domestic routes. 

Since the introduction of the Lumo service between London and Edinburgh in 2021, rail travel’s share on that route increased from 35% to 50%.

Full list of routes with times and prices, according to SilverRail:

Gatwick to Edinburgh  

– Air: 315 minutes, £70  

– Rail: 297 minutes, £66  

Heathrow to Edinburgh

– Air: 340 minutes, £153  

– Rail: 297 minutes, £66  

Heathrow to Glasgow 

– Air: 295 minutes, £106  

– Rail: 310 minutes, £63  

Heathrow to Newcastle  

– Air: 297 minutes, £147  

– Rail: 228 minutes, £45  

Heathrow to Manchester  

– Air: 278 minutes, £94  

– Rail: 173 minutes, £31  

Luton to Edinburgh 

– Air: 310 minutes, £61  

– Rail: 297 minutes, £66  

Stansted to Edinburgh  

– Air: 319 minutes, £45  

– Rail: 297 minutes, £66  

Gatwick to Glasgow  

– Air: 300 minutes, £71  

– Rail: 310 minutes, £63  

Luton to Glasgow 

– Air: 295 minutes, £64  

– Rail: 310 minutes, £63  

Stansted to Glasgow  

– Air: 299 minutes, £74  

– Rail: 310 minutes, £63