London to Edinburgh Transport Race: Train and Plane Go Head-to-Head
Journeying between England and Scotland, specifically from London to Edinburgh, offers travellers a variety of straightforward options, including air, rail, and bus services. The connectivity has never been more accessible. However, one intrepid traveller recently embarked on a unique experiment to definitively ascertain which mode of transport is the quickest by pitting them against each other in a real-time race.
The Challenge: A Capital-to-Capital Sprint
Scott Manson, the creator behind the YouTube channel Planes, Trains, Everything, meticulously tested both train and plane travel between the two iconic cities to determine which would emerge victorious. He documented the entire endeavour in a video posted to his account, captioning it: 'With the help of a stopwatch I travel between the two capitals - one way by LNER and the other by British Airways. On paper each will take five hours, but in reality?'
In the clip, Scott outlined his precise mission: 'I'm going to be racing from Black Sheep Coffee in Princes Street in Edinburgh to Black Sheep Coffee in High Holborn, just around the corner from Oxford Street. From the retail heart of Edinburgh to the retail heart of London.'
The Outbound Leg: The LNER Train Journey
Scott commenced his challenge by boarding an LNER train from Edinburgh Waverley station, allowing himself a brief ten-minute walk from the initial coffee shop to the platform. He noted during the journey: 'This is quite a fast train, only four hours and 17 minutes, and it only stops at Newcastle and York. That's going to give the train a little bit of an advantage, because some of these trains down to London stop at about 12 different places.'
The video shared captivating scenes from the rail trip, showcasing magnificent vistas across the Scottish and English countryside. After a minor delay at Peterborough, the train proceeded smoothly, pulling into London King's Cross station after a total travel time of four hours and 34 minutes. From there, Scott navigated to the London Underground, taking the westbound Piccadilly line to Holborn station.
Upon exiting Holborn, he located the destination Black Sheep Coffee, with his stopwatch recording a final outbound time of four hours and 53 minutes.
The Return Leg: The British Airways Flight
Following a quick coffee, Scott immediately turned around to undertake the return journey back to Edinburgh, this time opting for air travel. He expressed apprehension about this segment: 'This is actually the part I'm most worried about. I have to catch the Underground to Bank, and then connect onto the DLR. Every time I use that system, I get lost... this is where it could all go pear-shaped.'
Fortunately, he successfully caught his flight from London City Airport with British Airways and arrived at Edinburgh Airport. The final step involved taking the tram back into the city centre to return to the original coffee shop on Princes Street.
The conclusion for the return flight leg was a total travel time of four hours and 49 minutes.
The Verdict: Speed, Cost, and Carbon Footprint
Scott provided a comprehensive analysis of the race outcomes. In terms of environmental impact, he highlighted: 'Carbon emissions by train: 12½ kilos of CO2. By plane: 165 kilos of CO2. So it's definitely the greener option to go by train.' He also remarked that the train journey was far less stressful than navigating the complexities of airport security and transfers.
Financially, the train ticket cost £60, whereas the flight was priced at £95, making rail travel the more economical choice. While plane travel was marginally faster by a mere four minutes, the combined advantages of lower cost and significantly reduced carbon emissions present a compelling case for choosing the train.
This experiment underscores that for journeys between London and Edinburgh, train travel offers a competitive, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to flying, with only a negligible difference in total door-to-door travel time.
