UK rail travel is the most expensive in Europe, according to a new study. Research by campaign group Transport and Environment (T&E) suggests that Great Western Railway fares are the steepest, with prices two-and-a-half times higher than the average across European Union and Swiss operators for routes of similar lengths, based on its methodology.
Those travelling on Avanti West Coast services can expect to pay one-and-a-half times more, according to the research. Some dispute the findings of the report.
The Independent quotes Victor Thévenet, the rail policy manager and author of the report, in reference to a £74.90 fare for a rail journey between London and Milton Keynes, which, the news provider suggests, does not exist.
Victor Thévenet, the rail policy manager and author of the report, said: “Data collection was carried out in August for September ticket sales. At the time of data gathering, we found prices [for the London-Milton Keynes trip] ranged from £15 to £74.”
An Avanti West Coast spokesperson told The Independent that the maximum you could pay for an Anytime Single between Euston and Milton Keynes is £24.20.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for GWR, said: “I am not sure how the figures have been compiled and would take care in making any like-for-like comparisons.
“For us, they appear to have taken a number of our long-distance journeys, and an even greater number of short-distance journeys (that are under an hour) and come up with a mean average price.”
However, as anyone who regularly uses trains in the UK will know, rail travel in this country are often costly –- especially on longer-distance commuter routes.
For example, a spot check by The i Paper found that an Anytime ticket on a Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston service, when booked a week in advance, was £184.70 for a single and £352.70 for a return.
While European rail travel can also be costly, there are far more scenic, enjoyable routes on which to spend your money – all of which come in at a fraction of the price of one of the UK’s most expensive journeys.
Here are six to try.
The Bernina Express, Switzerland and Italy
Despite Switzerland being notoriously expensive, the exquisite Bernina Express route is surprisingly affordable.
This rail line, which runs between Chur or St. Moritz in Switzerland to Tirano in Italy via the Bernina Pass, costs from £87 one way for a second-class ticket, booked a week in advance.
Although certainly not a bargain, it is frequently hailed as one of the most stunning train journeys in the world.
The route takes four hours and covers just short of 100 miles (161km) of landscapes featuring snowy Swiss mountain peaks and Italian vistas.
Passing through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges, you’ll really get a taste of this corner of Europe on the decades-old route, which holds Unesco World Heritage status.
The Centovalli Railway, Switzerland and Italy
(Photo: EKH-Pictures/Getty Images)
One journey taking in the Swiss and Italian countryside may not be enough and, if that’s the case, the Centovalli – or Hundred Valleys – Railway might be the route for you.
Travelling between Locarno in Switzerland to Domodossola in northern Italy, this journey may be short at just over 30 miles, but the views you’ll take in on the way to Domodossola in the Piedmont region of Italy more than make up for its brevity.
With high, broad windows, the carriages are made to show off the beauty of the mountains, rivers and lakes en route.
You’ll take in waterfalls, quaint villages, vineyards and deep ravines, with highlights including a nail-biting trip across the 100-year-old vertiginous Isorno Bridge and a view of the mountain-top village of Intragna with its 65m tall church tower.
Tickets from Locarno to Domodossola can be bought at the station and cost from £16.95 one-way on a second-class basis.
The Black Forest Railway, Germany
The Black Forest Railway – Badische Schwarzwaldbahn in German – passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe, like thick pine forests and imposing rock faces.
Covering a distance of more than 90 miles (145km) while climbing 650m vertically, the train sets off from the small town of Offenburg, where it soon leaves any traces of urban life behind, taking passengers to breathtaking, nature-packed scenery.
On the two-hour-17-minute journey, you’ll take in the deep green pines of the Hornberg area, before joining up with the Upper Rhine Railway route, which continues to the shores of Lake Constance.
Set on the border of Switzerland and Austria, the lake is flanked by vineyards and quaint buildings, offering a picture postcard experience of Alpine Europe.
A one-way ticket on this stunning route costs from £23 in standard class, when booked a week in advance.
The Cinque Terre Express, Italy
Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera, with its colourful coastal villages, is a tourist favourite.
The Unesco-listed area can become overcrowded, but one way to skirt the traffic is to view it by rail.
It’s affordable, too: a day pass in standard class on the Cinque Terre Express is €14.80 (£12.20) per person.
Beginning in the town of La Spezia, the route then winds through the villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza before arriving at Monterosso al Mare.
The train stops at each of the five villages, and allows passengers to hop off whenever and wherever they choose.
Many visitors arrive by car or tour bus and miss out on unique vistas of the villages and their surrounding landscapes, which are far easier to take in when travelling by train.
The Belgrade-Bar Railway, Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro are relatively unexplored among UK travellers, but a journey on the Belgrade-Bar railway could be the perfect opportunity to get to know them a little better.
Taking around 11 hours, the trip starts in the capital of Belgrade, before taking its passengers through some of the most impressive landscapes in Serbia and neighbouring Montenegro.
Think mountain peaks contrasting with deep canyons, and a unique view of Montenegro’s Biogradska Gora National Park, part of Unesco’s network of biosphere reserves.
When your journey finishes in Bar, be sure to tack on some time to enjoy the town on the Adriatic Sea, which is known for its beaches, culture, history, and nature.
Despite the length of the trip, tickets are affordable, with fares from £19.80 in second-class, with first-class prices just a few euros more.
Although this route can be taken as a night train, with couchette beds only slightly more expensive than an upright seat, it’s recommended to travel on it during the day and make the journey, with its stunning scenery, as important as the destination.
Mainz to Koblenz, Germany
The Rhine Valley is known for its robust landscapes, home to vineyards, the Lorelei Rock and turretted castles.
Travelling by rail allows you to absorb the scene. The Mainz to Koblenz route runs through mountains, and along the Rhine, taking in views of old-world towns and villages.
Although the journey can be done in as little as 50 minutes on an express route, those in the know hop aboard the Mittelrheinbahn RB26 stopper service that takes nearly an hour to journey along the Rhine’s left bank.
To make the trip even more pleasant, this option offers a bar car, from which you can sample local wines, from a glass of fresh Riesling to a floral Gewürztraminer.
Even better is the cost – just £15.67 for a one-way seat in second-class when you book a week in advance.