Greenpeace: The European Commission must urgently make sustainable rail transport accessible and affordable for everyone

On the occasion of the upcoming holidays, during which 250 million Europeans travel returning home or going on vacation abroad. 

Greenpeace in Central and Eastern Europe (Greenpeace CEE) made a study in which it compared rail and air transportation costs between Zagreb and twelve European destinations on December 21, 23 and 28, which are among the busiest dates in Europe.

By the way, the air distances of all sections are less than 1.500 km, which is considered short flights. Among the analyzed countries is Croatia, i.e. the prices of transport tickets between Zagreb and 12 European destinations in December.

The results of the analysis showed that traveling by train to and from Zagreb an average of 28 percent more expensive from travel by plane. For example, plane tickets to Brussels or Rome can be bought for around 50 euros, while train tickets are almost twice as expensive for the same routes. Only in the four analyzed destinations is the return train ticket cheaper, namely for Zurich, Vienna, Warsaw and Budapest.

"Cheaper airline tickets seem more profitable at first glance, but behind the calculation lies the real cost of flying - that for our planet. Sustainable rail transport is still unaffordable for many, while air, which pollutes the environment the most, is at an unfair and harmful advantage. It is outrageous that air travel enjoys huge tax breaks, while rail tickets and green electricity for trains are taxed. The European Commission and the governments of the member states must urgently solve this unfair system and make sustainable rail transport accessible and affordable for everyone." he pointed out Herwig Schuster, leader of Greenpeace's Mobility4All campaign.

Apart from the price, the factors that are important for travelers when choosing a means of transport are the practicality and ease of booking. Of the 12 analyzed destinations, only three have a direct train line to and from Zagreb, namely Budapest, Vienna and Zurich, while eight direct flights are available at the same time.

Moreover, most European railway companies, including Deutsche Bahn, do not even offer tickets to and from Zagreb for twelve weeks before Christmas, which makes it impossible for users to plan a sustainable way of traveling. In addition, Croatian Railways is a rare example of a state-owned railway company that does not sell international tickets online, which makes booking even more impractical. At the same time, all air tickets for winter travel are available at least three months in advance.

"Traveling by train produces 80 percent less carbon emissions per person and per kilometer than flying. Transport is the only sector in the EU where CO₂ emissions, harmful to the climate, are increasing. In Croatia, these emissions have increased by a whopping 1990% since 48, which is not surprising considering that, instead of sustainable modes of transport, the state invested primarily in road infrastructure during that period. If we want to reduce emissions, the government must urgently prioritize investments in railways, make train trips cheaper with tax breaks and co-finance green cards as they exist in some European countries", she pointed out Petra Andrić, program manager of Greenpeace in Croatia. To begin with, it would be desirable to simplify and modernize the railway ticket reservation system.

Greenpeace: Traveling by train is the most climate-friendly mode of transport in Europe. 

All in all, train travel is the most climate-friendly mode of transport in Europe and should definitely replace short-haul air travel. Especially since the railway stations are everywhere located in the very centers of the cities and do not require an earlier arrival on the train compared to air transport where an earlier arrival is required check in. 

Traveling by train produces 80% less carbon pollution per person per kilometer than air travel. On the other side, air traffic is responsible for 75% of emissions from tourist traffic. Greenpeace cited two demands who help transition from air to rail traffic. The first is a ban on all airline advertisements and a ban on short-haul flights with a reasonable alternative by train. 

/ / / Air traffic creates the most harmful emissions from tourist traffic. A simple solution will reduce this problem considerably

The EU continues to give climate-damaging air transport competitive tax advantages over rail, for example by requiring rail operators to pay tax on the energy they use and produce, while airlines do not, Greenpeace said and concluded:

"Transport is the only sector in the EU where climate-damaging carbon dioxide emissions are on the rise. To reduce emissions, governments urgently need to prioritize funding and improving rail over polluting aircraft, by reducing tax credits for aviation, expanding and by improving rail connections across Europe, simplifying the train ticket reservation system, funding affordable climate tickets for all European residents and strengthening green transport infrastructure to enable seamless cross-border rail travel."

The analysis was conducted between November 6 and December 6, 2023 and relies on information from the official websites of airlines and railways.

Photos:  Mado El Khouly on Unsplash / Photo Allan So, Pexels / Illustration: hrturism