Compare Short Haul (<500 km)

Train vs Flight: Meilen to Mendrisio

🇨🇭 Meilen → 🇨🇭 Mendrisio · 158 km

Verdict

Train wins door-to-door on this short route — airport overhead makes flying impractical.

For this short-haul route from Meilen to Mendrisio, train is the clear winner. Airport check-in, security, and boarding add over 2.5 hours to your journey. The train departs from the city centre and arrives directly in the heart of Mendrisio, saving 34 kg of CO2 compared to flying.

Comparison

Train
Flight
Journey time 1h 27m 12m
Door-to-door

incl. check-in / airport

1h 57m

+30 min at station

2h 42m

+2h 30min at airport

CO2 emissions

avg. estimate per passenger

6.5 kg 40.3 kg
Est. ticket price

rough estimate only

~€13 ~€19
City centre arrival Central station Airport (outside city)

* Price and CO2 figures are rough average estimates. Actual values vary by booking class, date, operator, and energy mix. Journey times are based on existing route data or standard speed assumptions.

CO2 Savings

Save 33.8 kg CO2 — 84% less than flying

Train: 6.5 kg CO2 · Flight: 40.3 kg CO2 (41g/km train vs 255g/km flight, European averages incl. radiative forcing)

Train
6.5 kg
Flight
40.3 kg

Door-to-Door Breakdown

Train

Faster door-to-door
Check-in at station 30 min
Journey time 1h 27m
Total door-to-door 1h 57m

Flight

Airport overhead 2h 30 min
Flight time 12m
Total door-to-door 2h 42m

Train tickets for this route

Meilen → Mendrisio · full route details

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is train or flight faster from Meilen to Mendrisio?
Train is faster door-to-door from Meilen to Mendrisio. The train takes 1h 57m door-to-door (including 1h 27m journey + 30 min station check-in), while flying takes 2h 42m (12m flight + 2h 30min airport overhead).
How much CO2 does the Meilen–Mendrisio train vs flight produce?
For the Meilen to Mendrisio route (158 km straight-line), the train produces approximately 6.5 kg of CO2 per passenger, while the flight produces approximately 40.3 kg. Taking the train saves 33.8 kg of CO2 — a 84% reduction. These are average estimates based on European averages (train: 41g CO2/km, flight: 255g CO2/km including radiative forcing).
What is the door-to-door travel time for train vs flight Meilen to Mendrisio?
Door-to-door travel time from Meilen to Mendrisio:
  • Train: 1h 57m total (1h 27m journey + 30 min station check-in)
  • Flight: 2h 42m total (12m flight + 2h 30min airport overhead for check-in, security, boarding, and taxi)
Is the Meilen to Mendrisio train worth it vs flying?
For this short-haul route from Meilen to Mendrisio, train is the clear winner. Airport check-in, security, and boarding add over 2.5 hours to your journey. The train departs from the city centre and arrives directly in the heart of Mendrisio, saving 34 kg of CO2 compared to flying.
How far is Meilen from Mendrisio?
The straight-line distance from Meilen to Mendrisio is 158 km. The actual rail distance will be longer (typically ~1.3× the straight-line distance) due to track routing.

Stations

Other routes from Meilen

Data last updated: 2026-02-27