When The Station Is The Shortcut
A lot of travel time has nothing to do with the time in the air. It’s the trip out to the airport, the security line, the gate changes, the boarding shuffle, and then doing it all again on the other end. On the right routes, trains quietly delete most of that friction by dropping you in the middle of the city, on a schedule that usually feels more human. That said, trains are not magic, and there are plenty of trips where rail is slow, indirect, or simply not built for the distance. Here are 10 train rides that beat flying, followed by 10 routes where flying still wins.
1. London To Paris
This is the classic case where the train feels like the obvious adult choice once you’ve done it. Eurostar runs city-center to city-center in about 2 hours and 16 minutes, which makes the airport routine feel unnecessary.
2. London To Amsterdam
It’s another route where the train takes less of your day, even if the flight time looks short on paper. Eurostar gets you into Amsterdam in about 3 hours and 52 minutes, and the real advantage is avoiding airport trips, security lines, and all the waiting that comes with a quick flight.
3. Paris To Brussels
This one is so quick it barely has time to become a trip. Eurostar runs it in about 1 hour and 22 minutes, and you step off in the center instead of dealing with airports that sit outside both cities.
4. Paris To Lyon
Flying doesn’t really get a chance to shine here because the train is already doing the job efficiently. High-speed services can be as fast as about 1 hour and 44 minutes, and the trip feels like a commute instead of a travel day.
5. Madrid To Barcelona
This is one of Europe’s best examples of rail replacing air on a major corridor. High-speed AVE service puts the two cities within a few hours of each other, and it’s hard to justify the airport process when the station is right there in town.
6. Rome To Milan
Italy’s high-speed network makes this route feel almost routine, which is exactly the point. Trenitalia highlights nonstop Frecciarossa service in about 2 hours and 50 minutes, and you arrive ready to walk straight into the city instead of recovering from airport logistics.
7. Tokyo To Kyoto
This is the kind of trip that makes flying feel oddly complicated. The Shinkansen runs constantly, stations are central, and the whole experience is built for speed and predictability rather than airport choreography.
8. New York City To Washington, DC
On the Northeast Corridor, the train wins on convenience even when the flight time looks tempting on paper. Amtrak’s Acela is designed for downtown-to-downtown travel, and the ability to arrive, board, and get moving is the real advantage here.
9. Zurich To Bern
Switzerland is basically built around trains working well, and this is a perfect example. Fast services can do it in under an hour, and it feels more like sliding between neighborhoods than traveling between cities.
10. Vienna To Salzburg
This is a smooth, frequent rail link that makes a short flight feel like extra work for no payoff. ÖBB runs direct connections often, and the ride is comfortable enough that the train feels like the trip instead of the obstacle.
Now for ten routes where the train can be lovely, but flying still tends to win if the goal is getting there fast and simply.
1. New York City To Los Angeles
This is a distance problem, not a train problem. Cross-country rail is an experience trip that takes days, while flying is a single-day move that gets you back to your life quickly.
2. Los Angeles To Seattle
This is a route where flying usually wins if the goal is speed and simplicity. The train can be comfortable and scenic, but it’s much longer end-to-end, and delays can add even more time. If you’re trying to make a tight weekend work or you just need to get there the same day without drama, flying is typically the practical choice.
3. Tokyo To Sapporo
Japan’s rail network is excellent, but this is still a long haul with a lot of ground to cover. Flying usually wins on total travel time, especially if the goal is a quick trip rather than a scenic journey.
4. Paris To Nice
The train ride can be pleasant, but it’s still a long stretch across France. If the plan is a short weekend or a tight schedule, flying often wins simply because it compresses the travel day.
5. Madrid To Lisbon
This is one where rail can feel more complicated than you want it to be, depending on schedules and connections. Flying tends to be the cleaner option when you’re trying to keep the trip simple and short.
6. Berlin To Barcelona
This is a long international run with distance, borders, and time stacking up quickly. Trains can be done, but flying is usually the realistic choice if you’re not trying to turn the journey into the point.
7. Toronto To Vancouver
It’s an incredible rail journey if you want scenery and time to breathe, but it’s not a practical substitute for getting across Canada quickly. Flying wins if the goal is arrival, not experience.
8. Sydney To Perth
This is another distance reality check. The overland trip is epic and slow, while flying is the standard option when you need to cross the continent without losing multiple days.
9. Miami To New Orleans
There’s no fast, simple rail option that makes this feel like a true train alternative. Flying usually wins on speed, and driving is often the main non-flight choice people actually use.
10. Los Angeles To San Francisco
Until high-speed rail is fully real on this corridor, the train option is more about patience than efficiency. Flying often wins on time, and driving remains the default for people who want control over the schedule.
