Flight-free summer holidays: Trains are cheaper than planes on these exciting European journeys

As holidaymakers ditch airports and the acccompanying hassles, delays and expense, European rail is their alternative of choice.

But catching the train isn’t just better for the planet. It can also be better for your wallet.

According to research by Which? Travel, families can save money by opting for sleeper trains over short-haul flights.

A family of four could save nearly £100 (€115) travelling by sleeper train, the consumer advocacy organisation says.

A larger family could save more than £250 (€287).

So all aboard - here are the routes where you can save some holiday spending money.

Which? analysed the cost of travel for three European and two UK sleeper routes.

For the European routes - Paris to Vienna, Brussels to Vienna and London to Berlin - they compared the price of the cheapest private compartment in the first week of August, with the cost of the cheapest flight and a night’s accommodation.

The Paris to Vienna and Brussels to Vienna services are run by Nightjet, Europe’s largest sleeper train company.

On these services, a couple would save money by flying. But a couple with two or four children would be better off catching the train.

“Groups of four could save £94, while a bigger group could reduce their holiday bill by a whopping £267,” Which? concluded.

On the London to Berlin sleeper route - operated by European Sleeper - a ticket is marginally more expensive than a flight and a night’s accommodation.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, conceded that price remains a “barrier” to climate-conscious travel.

“While new sleeper train routes have launched across Europe, fares are prohibitive for many travellers,” he said.

“Our research found solo travellers and couples would have to pay significantly more to choose the train