Munich – Berlin, Plane vs. Train.

Math isn’t her favorite subject, but she loves the notion of sustainable travel. So, our wonderful intern Quinn took some time this week to calculate the CO2 emissions for a very frequented business route in Germany: Munich – Berlin via train vs. via plane.

Traveling from Munich to Berlin by Airplane

Distance: 480km

CO2 emissions for return flight: 250 kilograms/per person

Cost for return flight: 75 EUR in economy class

Traveling from Munich to Berlin by Train + One Night in Hotel 

Distance: 585km

CO2 emissions for return train: 35 kilograms/per person

Cost for return train: 70 EUR in economy class*

CO2 emissions for one night in 4* hotel: 16 kilograms/per person

Cost for one night 4* hotel:  160 EUR

Diagram comparing CO2 emissions per person traveling return from Munich to Berlin via train vs. via plane, including a one-night stay at a 4* hotel.
Sources for CO2 calculations in the diagram: co2online.de, atmosfair.de, ecometrica.com.

We’ve heard the argument that spending a night in a hotel emits unnecessary carbon emissions as well, so wouldn’t it be better to fly there and back on the same day?

Nope. We’ve done the math and even an extra night in Berlin – additionally to your train travel - will not come close to amounting as much CO2 emissions as flying. It comes down to approximately 250 kilograms of emissions when flying there and back on the same day vs. 51 kilograms of carbon emissions when taking the train AND spending a night in a luxurious hotel. Flying does five times the amount of harm to the environment!

Yes, the second option will cost you or your company more money. Depending on the type of hotel, anywhere from 50-300 EUR more for the night in the hotel. Yet based on the amount of CO2 we have been emitting in the Western World to date, we feel like that is a fair price to pay in order to execute a little more caution when traveling.

 And if you want to save money, you can always take the first train to Berlin in the morning and the last train back on the same day – and use those hours on the train to work or relax.

*If you book far enough in advance. Deutsche Bahn isn’t the most customer-friendly option when it comes to last minute travel plans.