A note on rail fares in Europe by Victor Ient
It’s likely that our rail fares in the UK will again go up next year (2024) because of the automatic triggering system used by the Government to increase rail fares annually which is based upon the RPI index in July. However, rail fares in Europe are consistently lower than the UK to encourage people to move from the car to the train. Also, the French Government are encouraging people to take the train instead of flying on domestic French flights. All very good news for them but not for us! Unless of course you choose a holiday where you’re travelling around Europe by train which is what I did recently on an eight-day holiday in the peak season of August with my two grandchildren. Here are some of the example fares on this trip:
Dieppe to Rouen – a 50-mile trip which cost us €5 each (about £4.30)
Zurich to Paris – a journey of over 400 miles which cost me €56 (about £48) with my French Carte Avantage Senior (60+ years old) with advanced booking. A standard fare is €80 (£68). If we had been travelling outside the main holiday period or booked further in advance it would have been even cheaper! Also, we were travelling over 300 km/h (186 mph) at times!
In Germany, rail ticket prices were even better. By going to the ticket office, the day before one could buy a rail ticket for only €20 which takes you ANYWHERE in Germany for the whole day, excluding high speed trains. However, the regional trains we travelled on were quite fast enough anyway. The ticket not only covered railways but bus and tram services too! What more could you ask for!
Try a Swiss national or regional pass (covering trains, mountain railways, cable cars, coaches & lake steamers), linking up with a cheap advanced booked Eurostar trip.
Great value & stunning scenery.
Hi Victor,
Thank you for sharing your insightful blog! It’s fascinating to see the stark difference between UK and European rail fares. Your experiences with affordable and efficient rail travel across Europe, especially the €20 all-day ticket in Germany, are truly inspiring. It’s a reminder of the benefits of exploring Europe by train, both economically and environmentally. Your journey sounds fantastic, especially the high-speed Zurich to Paris trip. Happy travels!
Thank you Oliver!