Long-Distance Trains Gain Popularity In Europe Due To Airport Drama

This summer, many travelers in Europe have faced delays at the airport or canceled flights. This is leading to long-distance trains gaining in popularity. As Europe introduces more options for affordable rail travel, it is hoped that this will soar in an effort to reduce travelers’ carbon footprint.

Long-distance trains gain popularity in Europe

One example of the increase in popularity of trains is that the Paris-Vienna night train has sold 70 percent of its available tickets since first launching in December 2021. This means that each of its three, weekly return runs was almost a full house. Moreover, it is far more affordable than flying.

Offered by Austrian rail provider OBB, the Nightjet service leaves the Gare d l’Est in Paris at 7:30 pm, arriving in Vienna at 10 am the next morning. Meanwhile, the cheapest tickets on the Nightjet start at an affordable €29.90 ($33). This rail service is one of a number of new lines reconnecting major cities in Europe with direct train routes and more are planned.

Trenitalia to launch direct Paris-Madrid line

Trenitalia has lauded the “incredible” success of its lines connecting Lyon, Paris, Turin and Milan in 2021. This is why the Italian rail provider hopes to launch a direct Paris to Madrid line by the end of next year.

Meanwhile, at the end of 2023, a new sleeper train between Paris and Berlin is scheduled to start. Moreover, a new high-speed connection between the two cities is set to start in 2024, cutting down the current 10-hour train ride to seven hours.

‘Fed up with the airport and airline experience’

Rail expert Mark Smith, who owns the train travel website seat61.com, explained how interest in long-distance train travel has grown steadily over the last eight years. However, Smith now says the growing popularity for train travelers has two main motivations:

They’re fed up with the airport and airline experience, and they want to cut their carbon footprint.

As a comparison, a two-hour flight from Paris to Vienna leads to 419.6 kg of carbon emissions. However, according to OBB, when traveling with Nightjet, the emissions are 41.5 kg.

Meanwhile, the lack of political action to prioritize eco-friendly trains is lacking. When France banned short-haul flights in May on environmental grounds, the rail option took less than two hours. However, the law is so full of loopholes only three routes have been impacted.

Night trains were mostly wiped out in Europe in the 1990s. This came after budget air travel offered people quick, affordable trips that could fit into a weekend. France 24 reports that the 9/11 attacks in 2001 led to more stringent airport security worldwide, leading to longer wait times in airports.

20 years later, Smith notes, “Trains can now have power sockets and Wi-Fi so you can work on them for business travel, and if you’re looking at leisure travelers who are not rushed, they’re willing to travel even further.”

Long-distance train between Paris and Barcelona

The night train connecting Paris, France and Barcelona, Spain, truly reveals the benefits of train travel. Passengers can grab a croissant for breakfast in Paris and head to the Gare de Lyon station. Meanwhile, arriving in Barcelona-Sants just in time for a tapas lunch. Between the two meals, travelers get to enjoy the views from the windows while relaxing onboard.

However, Smith noted, “Transport is the only sector of Europe’s economies where CO2 emissions continue to rise,” adding:

We’re all conscious that we ought to take the train to go on holiday rather than flying, but the bit in the middle – making political wind out of how to make that happen – that’s where it falls down.

Let’s hope the train option continues to gain popularity, while the journey itself is part of the vacation.