Flying in the UK rather than getting the train could save you HUNDREDS of pounds – here’s the biggest bargains
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CHOOSING to fly when travelling in the UK rather than taking the train could save you hundreds of pounds.
That's because 60 per cent of long-distance journeys in Britain are cheaper by plane than rail, according to new research.
The analysis, carried out by the Times, showed that commuters could save up to £104 per return journey if they took to the skies.
This means that environmentally-conscious Brits will find themselves out of pocket if they choose to get the train.
Last year, 23 million passengers took domestic flights in the UK, producing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 each year.
But the increasing cost of rail travel is forcing many Brits to fly when getting the train would be better for the environment.
The biggest cost discrepancies were for travellers going from Bristol to Inverness.
A return rail ticket costs a whopping £153, while a return flight is only £49 - a saving of 68 per cent.
The same journey but starting in Inverness is £103 cheaper by plane.
To crunch the data, the Times analysed domestic flights between Britain’s 20 mainland international airports.
It compared the lowest return fares in the past month, available through Skyscanner, to the cheapest advance train return currently available on the closest equivalent route, using the Trainline.
HOW TO SAVE ON YOUR RAIL FARE
HERE'S how you can beat the rip-off rail fares before the reforms come in:
Buy a season ticket - If you're making the same journey frequently, for example, your daily comute to work, then you may find that it works out cheaper for you to buy a season ticket. But remember, you'll need to fork out the initial upfront costs before you benefit from the savings.
Book in advance - Network Rail releases its new timetable 12 weeks before it starts, so train companies usually make tickets available at this time. Some operators release them even earlier but the key is to book early. Sign up to Trainline’s ticket alert service to find out when cheap advance fares go on sale for a particular journey you need.
Split your tickets - If you are taking a long train journey, you could save hundreds of pounds by splitting your tickets. A one-way advance ticket from Leeds to Oxford tomorrow costs £99.40. But split your ticket by travelling from Leeds to Birmingham New Street (£60.10) then from Birmingham New Street to Oxford (£18.50) and you pay £78.60. You often won’t even need to change trains and National Rail lets you split your ticket as long as the train calls at the stations you buy the tickets for.
Get a railcard - These can slash a third off the price of some tickets. They cost between £20 and £30 a year. For example, the 16-25 Railcard gives a third off ticket rates for full-time students of any age.
Hunt for cheap tickets - Don’t pay over the odds for tickets — and remember to compare prices before you buy. First, check the , which is a great way to get an overview of routes and travel times. Then check and to see if cheap fares are available. They will usually charge you to make a booking — between 25p and £1.50 — so factor that in.
All of the flights in the research were direct ones, but many of the rail routes required multiple changes, meaning the flights are quicker and more convenient, as well as being cheaper.
The most popular domestic route is London to Edinburgh.
The cheapest possible rail return is £53 while the cheapest return flight is £31 - saving 42 per cent.
If you take a quick train to Scotland, the prices leap up meaning the savings by air are significantly higher.
Rail fares rose by three per cent this year, despite the worst punctuality for more than a decade.
And earlier this year, investigations discovered that Network Rail bosses were ordered to fly rather than take trains because it is cheaper.
Bruce Williamson, from the campaign group Railfuture, told the Times: “With the environmental cost of rail travel being so much lower than flying, the government should be encouraging people to take the train.
"Instead they’re pricing people off the railways by allowing fare increases in real terms year on year.”
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