Follow France’s lead and remove air routes where there is a direct rail link of 4.5 hours or less, to help rapidly bring emissions down in line with the UK’s legally-binding net zero targets.

With air emissions approximately 7 times higher than rail emissions (UK Government, 2022), we think removing the option to fly would make a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions. At a time when we need to do all we can to cut carbon, we should follow the lead of France and Spain who have, or are considering, banning domestic routes where rail provides a viable alternative. The 4.5 hour cut-off includes Lon-Edinburgh and Lon-Glasgow, two of the UK’s most-used flight routes.