There is a remarkable change in travel habits in Europe. At a time when air travel has stagnated, train travel is experiencing a renaissance. A new study shows that Europeans strongly support this transformation. A survey conducted by rail manufacturer Hitachi Rail with 11 participants shows that almost half of the participants plan to travel more by train and less by plane in the next five years. Globally, seven in ten people say they would use this mode of transport more often if public transport connections were improved. In fact, more than half of the participants say they would prefer public transport even if it were more expensive. These findings show that the search for sustainable transport in Europe is growing stronger and that railways are playing an important role in this search.
The Rise of the Train for Long Distance Travel
Currently, around a third (2,5%) of long-distance journeys (29 hours and above) are made up of train journeys. However, this proportion is expected to increase significantly in the near future. While one third of respondents plan to travel more by train in the next 12 months, this proportion increases to 40% across countries and 49% across cities in a five-year projection. In contrast, the proportion expecting to travel more by plane in the same period remains very low at only 2%. This striking difference shows that Europeans are significantly more interested in trains for long-distance travel, while demand for planes has decreased significantly. Respondents also expect car use to increase, but this increase is expected to be 50% lower than rail travel. This suggests that trains are also perceived as a more sustainable alternative to individual vehicles.
Strong Support for Short-Haul Flight Ban
The desire to travel more by train in the future is also matched by strong support for regulations that would ban short-haul flights on routes where high-speed rail alternatives are available. While 62% of those surveyed support such legislation, this figure rises to 67% in Europe, where high-speed lines are widespread. France has already introduced such legislation, and a similar proposal is being considered in Spain. In both countries, more than half of those surveyed support the ban, with a significant number of respondents indicating they are ready for stronger measures (63% in Spain and 56% in France). This strong support clearly demonstrates Europeans’ belief in environmentally friendly transport options and their growing awareness of the environmental impact of short-haul flights.
Investment in Railway Infrastructure and Public Transport Outlook
The survey also shows that the public is generally positive about financing rail infrastructure through increased air and road taxes. In all countries, the number of people in favor of this proposal is higher than the number of people against it. This shows that citizens are willing to make sacrifices to develop sustainable transport infrastructure. The survey also examined perceptions of increasing public transport use. While respondents identified crowding, price and comfort as the biggest obstacles, 10 in 7 said they would use public transport more often if connections were improved. Moreover, more than half of these people said they would still choose public transport even if it were more expensive. This finding shows that public transport can be used not only as an economic necessity, but also out of environmental and social responsibility.
A Great Opportunity for the Industry
Hitachi Rail Group Markets Manager Edoardo La Ficara evaluated the survey results and said, “Survey participants expect to increase rail usage more than any other mode of transport in the next five years and support government measures to achieve this.” La Ficara emphasized that this situation presents a significant opportunity for the sector to realize a major transformation in sustainable transportation. This change in Europe can be a significant source of motivation for railway companies to increase their infrastructure investments, improve service quality and offer more attractive options to passengers. At the same time, governments developing policies to encourage rail transportation and providing alternatives to short-haul flights will contribute to the acceleration of this transformation. This train renaissance that has blossomed in Europe has the potential to make a significant contribution to the construction of a more sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation system across the continent.
