New analysis shows that rail travel in France is not only more sustainable but also significantly faster and cheaper than flying for several domestic routes—bolstering the rationale behind the country’s ban on certain short-haul flights introduced in 2023.
France’s regulation, part of its 2021 Climate Law, prohibits domestic flights where a train alternative of under 2.5 hours exists, excluding connecting flights. While the measure was initially designed to cut carbon emissions, new research by Trainline reveals the train is also the smarter choice in terms of speed, cost, and convenience.
Train Nearly Twice as Fast for Some Routes
Trainline compared five common domestic routes using its own rail data and Skyscanner’s flight data. The findings underscore that for trips like Rennes to Paris or Paris to Lyon, rail travel can be nearly twice as fast as flying.
Rennes to Paris:
Plane: 3h 21m (including airport transit and check-in)
Train: 1h 44m
Paris to Lyon:
Plane: 3h 37m
Train: 2h 11m
The primary time-saving advantage of rail is its city-centre-to-city-centre connections and the elimination of long security queues, airport transfers, and potential delays.
“While the duration of a flight may seem shorter, it doesn’t reflect the actual journey time, which includes everything from transit to the airport to waiting at the gate,” Trainline said in a statement.
Even when accounting for the recommended 30-minute early arrival at the train station, passengers still save considerable time.
Cheaper Fares Add to Rail’s Appeal
The study also found that train fares are, on average, 1.8 times cheaper than flying. Travelers between Paris and Lyon save approximately €40, and those commuting between Marseille and Lyon can save up to €41 by taking the train.
Carbon Footprint: Trains Are Up to 150x Cleaner
Environmental concerns were the original driver behind the flight ban, and the data supports that shift. The carbon emissions for rail travel are up to 151 times lower than for air travel.
Paris to Lyon by air: ~90 kg CO₂ per passenger
Same journey by train: ~0.69 kg CO₂ per passenger
Despite this, the regulation is only expected to reduce France’s total domestic flight emissions by 2.6% annually, according to the Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC), amounting to a reduction of 55,000 tonnes.
A Model for Other Countries?
France is currently the only EU country with such a restriction in place, but the latest data may encourage other nations to follow suit as they weigh the environmental and practical benefits of rail over short-haul air travel.
