Overview
- The Steer report, published Wednesday, July 29, 2026, compared rail and domestic air travel on seven Great Britain routes using LENNON rail transaction data, OAG air fares and a poll of 2,000 adults.
- Two thirds of respondents said they would consider taking a train for inter‑city trips while just 13% would choose to fly, according to the survey commissioned by the Rail Delivery Group.
- Across the routes studied Steer found train travel was about 71% cheaper on average than flying, producing mean savings of roughly £147 per journey and an example London–Manchester average fare of £45 versus £115 for a flight (air fare quoted before extras).
- The report estimates passengers can use 93% of rail journey time for work or leisure versus 33% for domestic flights, equivalent to about three extra usable hours per trip for rail travellers.
- Steer’s findings are presented as both consumer and environmental arguments for rail but note the study covers only seven routes, uses base air fares that may omit add‑ons, and was commissioned by the industry body Rail Delivery Group, which shapes how the results may be used in policy and marketing.