Brussels, Belgium: As the festive season approaches, Brussels, a city teeming with diverse communities, finds itself at the crossroads of a climate conundrum.
In a comprehensive analysis, Greenpeace EU has shed light on the prevailing assumption that flying is the cheaper option for holiday travel, revealing a stark reality that challenges this perception.
The environmental watchdog compared the costs of train and plane tickets between Brussels and 20 European cities on peak Christmas travel dates (21, 23, and 28 December).
The findings unveiled a transport system that continues to favour air travel despite its environmental toll.
Lorelei Limousin, Greenpeace EU’s transport campaigner, remarked on the results, stating, “On average, our analysis found that the price of a ticket to travel by train between Brussels and the 20 destinations was three times greater than making the same journey by plane.”
The study revealed that on 11 routes, it was consistently more affordable to fly than take the train. The Brussels to Madrid route demonstrated the most significant average price disparity, with rail passengers paying seven times more than their airborne counterparts.
Madrid also emerged as the most expensive destination to reach from Brussels by rail, with an average cost of €324.47.
The starkest contrast in price was evident in the Brussels to Rome journey on 21 December. A Ryanair flight priced at €14.99 stood in stark contrast to the cheapest train ticket, which cost a staggering 16 times more at €249.50.
While the analysis identified Brussels to Vienna as the route with the cheapest train tickets, averaging at €65, even here, Ryanair flights proved more economical on two out of the three analyzed dates. Only two routes, Munich and Zurich, consistently boasted train tickets cheaper than their airborne counterparts.
The study also underscored the practical challenges associated with opting for trains. Only four destinations – Berlin, Vienna, London, and Marseille – currently offer direct train connections from Brussels.
London and Marseille are the sole destinations with daily direct train services. In contrast, all 20 cities examined had direct flights at least three days a week.
Moreover, the ticketing system for trains often proves cumbersome. For half of the analyzed routes, passengers cannot purchase a single ticket, necessitating multiple bookings with different railway companies for various legs of the journey.
This complexity contrasts sharply with the straightforward nature of booking airline tickets.
Another logistical hiccup highlighted by the analysis is the limited availability of train tickets in advance.
While airline tickets for the winter season could be secured three months ahead, most train tickets only became available for purchase one or two months before the travel date.
The allure of cheaper airfares, ease of booking, and frequent direct connections continue to make flying the default choice for many despite the environmental consequences.
Greenpeace EU’s findings raise questions about aligning the existing transport infrastructure with sustainability goals and the urgent need for systemic changes.
As Brussels gears up for the festive season, the analysis serves as a wake-up call, urging travellers to reconsider their choices and governments to prioritize sustainable transportation solutions.
The joy of Yuletide should not come at the cost of exacerbating the climate crisis, and it is high time for a shift in the paradigm of holiday travel.
In the face of these revelations, Brussels stands at a crucial juncture where conscious decisions could pave the way for a more sustainable and responsible approach to holiday journeys.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
