11-05-2025
How expensive are British trains compared with Europe and the US?
How much does it cost to take the train between Britain's two biggest cities? Simple answers to such questions are elusive. It could be as much as £98.50 (the 06:10 from London Euston to Birmingham New Street, booked for tomorrow on Avanti). It could also be as little as £6.40 (the 13:36pm from Marylebone to Snow Hill, booked several weeks in advance through Chiltern Railways).
On measures ranging from punctuality to the wi-fi signal, Britain's trains get a bad rap — but is the price another problem? You can book a flight to New York (for next year at a time nobody wants to travel, if you are happy to forgo meals and dignity) for less than the most expensive fare between London and Manchester.
