More UK travellers opting for rail over domestic flights

UK's Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) has observed (16-Sep-2010) a fundamental shift in travel around the country, as new figures show people are increasingly turning their backs on domestic flying and choosing to travel between Britain's major cities by rail. Figures published by the ATOC show that, in recent years, rail's market share on routes that have traditionally been dominated by domestic air travel, has risen significantly. Such routes include: [more]

• Birmingham-Edinburgh: market share has risen from 14% in 2008 to 31% in Jun-2010;
• London-Manchester: from 69% to 85%;
• Birmingham-Glasgow: from 15% to 27%;
• London-Glasgow: from 12% to 21%.

Association of Train Operating Companies: "It is clear that a fundamental shift in the way that people get around the country is taking place. Ever greater numbers of people choosing rail travel to get between our big cities is good news for the environment, and shows the importance of the railways in supporting the economy. The volcanic ash cloud led to a spike in rail journey numbers as train operators laid on extra services to get people around the country. But this merely accelerated a trend seen in recent years, most notably last year, when tough financial times led people to opt for the train ... If these trends continue, we can expect domestic air to become the choice of the minority, with flying between some cities disappearing altogether," Edward Welsh, Director of Corporate Affairs. Source: Association of Train Operating Companies, 16-Aug-2010.