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The UK Department for Transport (DfT) published the following estimated emissions for an illustrative London–Glasgow journey, using 2023 conversion factors. Values are per passenger for the journey, not per kilometre.
| Mode | Estimated emissions per passenger |
|---|---|
| Coach | 22 kg CO2e |
| Train | 28 kg CO2e |
| Average petrol car | 90 kg CO2e |
| Plane | 175 kg CO2e |
On this example, the average petrol-car passenger’s estimated emissions are more than four times the equivalent coach passenger’s. The train estimate is also much lower than the car and plane estimates, though the coach is lower still. These figures illustrate one comparison; they do not predict every holiday itinerary. DfT’s 2023 transport and environment statistics notes that actual journeys can differ with local circumstances.
Why the result changes from one trip to another
How many people share the car
The DfT methodology adjusts car emissions using an average occupancy of 1.5 passengers, citing the National Travel Survey. If more people share the same car journey, its emissions are divided among more passengers, reducing the estimate per person. A comparison with a nearly empty car is therefore not the same as a comparison with a full family car.
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Route distance and access legs
The whole trip matters, not just the main mode. A road route may be longer or less direct than a train route; flying may also require travel to and from airports and transfers. DfT’s Leeds–Belfast example illustrates how cars travelling farther to reach a ferry terminal can affect the comparison. Include access and transfer legs when comparing real holiday plans, rather than treating an airport, station or ferry terminal as if it were the destination.
Train and coach services are not identical
The DfT train estimate uses a national rail factor combining electric and diesel rail. A particular service can differ from that average because the service mix is not the same everywhere. Likewise, the coach figure is an estimate for the relevant comparison, not a guarantee for every vehicle or departure.
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What the emissions estimates include—and what they do not
The DfT journey comparison includes direct emissions and indirect “well-to-tank” emissions for modes. For aviation, it also includes a central estimate of indirect atmospheric effects such as contrails; DfT says those effects are uncertain. The result is a CO2e estimate within stated accounting boundaries, not a precise measurement of the emissions from one individual passenger’s particular trip.
When checking a comparison, look for its year, geography and boundary: whether it covers the whole journey, how it treats fuel supply, whether aviation’s non-CO2 effects are counted, and whether the rail value represents a specific service or a national average. DfT’s methodology and guidance explains the assumptions behind its journey comparisons.
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A separate Transport Scotland comparison uses 2018 data and reports average emissions per passenger kilometre. These historical mode-level averages are useful context, but they are not current predictions for a particular holiday route.
| Mode | 2018 average (g CO2e per passenger kilometre) |
|---|---|
| Coach | 28 |
| National rail | 44 |
| Average petrol car | 122 |
| Domestic flight | 158 |
In this dataset, coach and national rail have lower average emissions per passenger kilometre than an average petrol car or domestic flight. A per-kilometre average does not settle a whole-trip comparison: routes cover different distances and may include extra access or transfer travel. Transport Scotland’s Carbon Account for Transport No. 10 provides the historical figures.
Quick Recap
How to compare options for your holiday
- Compare complete itineraries. Add the journey to and from airports, stations or terminals, as well as transfers and any ferry leg.
- Use a whole-journey figure when available. Check that options cover the same origin and destination; do not treat a per-kilometre average as the total for your trip.
- Check the year and geography. A UK example based on 2023 conversion factors and a Scotland report using 2018 averages describe different evidence and should not be presented as interchangeable current forecasts.
- Account for car occupancy. Compare the number of people travelling together, not just the car’s total emissions against one public-transport passenger.
- Check what the mode average represents. A national rail factor may combine electric and diesel services, while flight estimates may include uncertain indirect atmospheric effects.
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