UK flights 'cheaper than trains'

It is less expensive to fly between destinations within the UK than it is to take the train, according to new research.

A study by consumer group Holiday Which? has revealed that many airfares in the UK are significantly cheaper than train fares, as well as being easier to understand.

Researchers discovered that the cheapest advertised rail tickets are often unavailable, leaving passengers with more expensive options.

But when looking to travel by air, Britons could save a considerable sum of money, with typical ticket prices for journeys between Birmingham and Edinburgh coming in at the £35 mark.

"Our research found trains are the most expensive way to get around the country," commented Holiday Which? editor Lorna Cowan.

Figures from BAA indicate that nearly 145 million passengers used some of the UK's biggest airports during 2005-06, with the majority of these travellers flying from Heathrow Airport.