Glasgow To London - Train Or Plane ?

[uber]

With the price of fuel at an all time high and expensive airport costs what is cheaper for the operator to run between Glasgow and London, a fully packed train or a packed plane?

I only ask because train fares are SO high next to flight costs

[Chrisgr31]

I suspect a plane is cheaper to operate. I dont know about the purchase cost of each but I suspect they are pretty similar, and once you have the plane you have to staff it, fill it with fuel pay your airport fees and off you go.

With a train you need it staff it (for about 4 times the time on that journey), fuel it and then pay track access fees, and I think you'll find they are crippling!

[Davie]

I used to fly Bristol to Glasgow on a regular basis and to this day don't understand how a flight each way could be had for as little as £19 (plus booking fee of £3.50!) and yet the train was at best three times that. The plane took 50mins, the train... about 7 weeks. Hell, even the Megabus was dearer.

[davepoth]

Davie said:

I used to fly Bristol to Glasgow on a regular basis and to this day don't understand how a flight each way could be had for as little as £19 (plus booking fee of £3.50!) and yet the train was at best three times that. The plane took 50mins, the train... about 7 weeks. Hell, even the Megabus was dearer.

Because there were a couple of saps on the plane who rocked up to the airport with no ticket and paid £350, and then emptied the hostess trolley of alcohol, perfume, and those pointless salt shakers that nobody really wants.

[mattdaniels]

cheapglights.co.uk - "Heathrow to Glasgow from £464 return"

You'll get more passengers on the train though.

[mattdaniels]

Pilots aren't exactly cheap either. Nor is the cost of getting licenced to operate a fare-paying flight. Nor is the cost of slots at London airports.