Taking the train is faster than flying for some short journeys within France, according to a new analysis.
In 2023, France introduced a ban on domestic short-haul flights where there is a rail alternative of under two and a half hours. It was brought in to curb carbon emissions, but swapping a plane for a train could also be the cheaper and, it turns out, faster option.
Research from Trainline compared five national journeys for which the air option is soon expected to disappear and found that some intercity trips are made twice as fast by choosing rail transport.
Taking the train instead of a plane for journeys of 2.5 hours or less in France can mean significantly reducing travel time, according to Trainline figures.
The rail booking company used its own data to calculate the train journey times and cost, and data from airline booking comparison site Skyscanner for plane travel times and cost.
The difference in travel times is mainly because opting for rail transport means avoiding lengthy security checks and waiting times required when taking a flight.
“While the duration of the flight often seems advantageous, it does not reflect the (actual) duration of an air journey, including travel to the airport, waiting before boarding and security checks, possible delays related to checks and check-in,” Trainline said.
Some intercity journeys in France can be almost twice as fast by train as by plane, the research found.
