7 advantages of rail transport

Last updated: 8 October 2026

Rail transport is an important component of tourism as well as of the wider transport sector. There are many advantages of rail transport, from speed to size to capacity. This article explains the seven main advantages of rail transport.

What are the advantages of rail transport?

Rail transport is an important part of the transport system and is an important method of ground transport.

From the steam train to electric trams and luxury trains, there are many different types of trains.

There are many advantages of rail transport, which is why it is used so frequently around the world. The seven most common advantages of rail transport are outlined below.

#1 Rail transport can be cost effective

When it comes to the advantages of rail transport, cost is a big one.

For individuals and businesses alike, cost is often a key factor in decision-making.

Evidence shows that shipping companies who convert their long-haul freight from road to rail can save 10-40% of costs by doing so. Heavier loads on the roads means more fuel is being used, and rail has cheaper fuel costs anyway.

There are also lower driver-related costs.

For people looking to commute and travel, rail transport can be cost effective.

There are often various discount options available for travellers of different ages as well as group discounts. Whether that’s senior discounts or cut costs for students, travelling by train can often be very affordable – for example, UK railcards offer a third off many fares.

Interrailing is another example. Popular in Europe, an Interrail pass allows travellers to take trains between many cities (such as Barcelona and Montpellier) for a fixed price, and can be cheaper than flying when several journeys are combined.

#2 Rail transport is more eco-friendly than other types of transport

One of the main advantages of rail transport is that it is one of the most eco-friendly ways to travel, other than walking or cycling.

According to UK government greenhouse gas conversion factors, travelling by national rail produces around 80% less carbon dioxide per passenger kilometre than travelling alone in an average car, and electric high-speed trains such as Eurostar produce even less.

All of the following are lower when travelling by train than private vehicle:

• Noise pollution
• Air pollution
• Accidents 
• Infrastructure deterioration 
• Congestion 

Because their emissions are low, trains are widely seen as a key part of more sustainable transport and tourism.

As electric cars become more common, the gap is narrowing, but trains remain much more environmentally friendly per passenger.

Electric trains powered by renewable or nuclear energy can offer very low-carbon journeys in some countries.

A typical train line can carry up to 50,000 people per hour. Meanwhile, a motorway or freeway can only move around 2-3,000 people per hour. Using trains can therefore significantly reduce congestion.

Travelling between major cities by train rather than plane is great for the environment.

Train stations are often located in city centres, so passengers can travel directly from one city centre to another.

By contrast, flying usually involves travelling out to an airport and then from the destination airport into the city.

Travelling by train eliminates many of these extra emissions. Some European countries have even taken steps to reduce short-haul flights where trains are available – for example, France banned domestic flights on routes that can be travelled by train in under two and a half hours in 2023. 

#3 Rail transport is reliable

For both passenger and freight travel, one of the advantages of rail transport is that it is reliable.

Running on strict timetables, trains generally keep to their journey times, and fixed routes and schedules make rail one of the most dependable modes of transport.

Because rail transport does not share its space with other vehicles (unlike cars, which share the roads with other cars, vans, trucks and more), trains do not get stuck in traffic jams.

Trains are also not too affected by weather.

Whereas heavy rain and ice, for example, can slow down cars and trucks because the road is dangerous, trains are generally more robust and better able to deal with adverse weather, although extreme heat, flooding and storms can still cause disruption.

Trains do come off schedule sometimes, of course. If a tree falls across a track or there is some sort of incident, this can slow things down and put a stop to rail transport for a short period of time.

However, rail networks generally have well-established processes for managing disruption.

#4 Rail transport is much larger than road transport 

Trains, both for passengers and for freight, are much bigger than cars, vans and even buses/coaches. This means they can transport more (people or goods!) in a shorter time.

For shipping, this increased capacity means that companies can pay less, as the large capacity can be divided between different shipments. Rail is also ideal for bulky and heavy goods.

And for people, as mentioned above one train line can transport up to 50,000 people per hour. This is far more than a road can carry. Even taking buses and coaches into consideration, trains can still carry so many more passengers.

Their speed and efficiency as well as their size means that more passengers can get from A to B in one time frame. This is helpful for the economy as it boosts tourism as well as aiding people to travel from rural areas to inner cities for employment and education purposes.

#5 Rail transport is incredibly safe

In terms of accidents and breakdowns, these are minimal when it comes to rail transport. This means that passenger and freight travel via train is generally much safer than other means of ground transportation.

Guidelines are put in place at railway stations to ensure public safety. There are guards on duty, and adaptations have been made over the years so that the trains themselves are safe to use and be on or around.

By adhering to health and safety rules as well as making waves in terms of improving accessibility in stations and on trains, rail transport is becoming ever-safer.

This is one of the great advantages of rail transport, especially when it comes to passenger travel.

#6 Rail transport is speedy

Trains can cover a long distance at a high speed in a short time. This makes it ideal for long-distance (such as inter city or country) transport. Many parts of the world are famous for their high speed trains.

Aeroplanes are faster over long distances, but flying is far less eco-friendly, and for journeys of up to around 700 km, high-speed trains are often as quick as flying once airport transfers and security are included.

Carbon offsetting schemes exist, but it is generally better to avoid emissions in the first place where possible.

This speed is one of the best advantages of rail transport. For tourists, travelling by train can be a great experience, and it is no wonder that inter-railing in Europe is such a popular way to travel. Overnight sleeper trains have also made a comeback in Europe, with operators such as ÖBB Nightjet and European Sleeper launching new routes.

Some popular multi-country routes include:

• London – Paris – Munich – Zagreb – Belgrade – Sofia – Istanbul
• Venice – Patras – Piraeus – Santorini – Kos – Rhodes – Karpathos
• Genoa – Innsbruck – Divaca – Pula – Zagreb – Sarajevo – Mostar – Dubrovnik – Split
• Amsterdam – Lübeck – Copenhagen – Gothenburg – Oslo – Bergen – Lillehammer – Trondheim – Östersund – Stockholm – Copenhagen – Hamburg – Antwerp
• Bordeaux – San Sebastián – Madrid – Barcelona – Lyon – Turin – Florence – Salzburg – Prague – Kraków – Warsaw – Berlin – Brussels

Rail travel allows passengers to see some amazing parts of the world.

It can also be a cost-effective way to see several destinations in one trip.

Inter-railing is favoured by younger tourists because it is generally budget-friendly, and discounted passes are available for under-28s and over-60s.

#7 Rail transport provides epic scenery 

Travelling by train allows passengers to see some incredible scenery.

Whether it’s through the mountains or along the coast, the nature of rail transport allows for beautiful views out of the windows. Some great examples of destinations with scenic rail journeys include Canada and Sri Lanka.

Motorways often pass through industrial areas, and from a plane there may be little more than clouds to see.

By contrast, rail passengers can see a great deal: quaint Austrian villages, snow capped French mountains, luscious Peruvian valleys and so much more.

Train journeys often provide an opportunity to see spaces and areas you might not be able to see otherwise.

Inter-country travel, such as the journey from Prague to Vienna, allows passengers to watch the landscape change as you make the trip between two incredible places.

The journey can become part of the holiday in its own right, as with famous scenic routes such as the Glacier Express in Switzerland or the West Highland Line in Scotland.

Advantages of rail transport: To conclude

Travelling by rail can save money, help to protect the environment and offer fast, reliable journeys with great scenery. These advantages make rail a popular transport choice across the globe.

Advantages of rail transport: FAQs

Below are answers to some of the most common questions about the advantages of rail transport.

Advantages of rail transport: Further reading

If you found this article on the advantages of rail transport useful, these articles may also be of interest:

• 15 types of rail transport
• The history of transportation
• Luxury trains around the world
• 50 types of transport from around the world
• Environmental impacts of tourism

About the author

Dr Hayley Stainton is a tourism academic, examiner and the founder of Tourism Teacher. She has a PhD in tourism and more than 20 years’ experience teaching travel and tourism at school and university level. Read more about Hayley