Compare Short Haul (<500 km)

Train vs Flight: Aachen Hbf to Erstfeld

🇩🇪 Aachen Hbf → 🇨🇭 Erstfeld · 477 km

Verdict

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

For this short-haul route from Aachen Hbf to Erstfeld, 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 Erstfeld, saving 102 kg of CO2 compared to flying.

Comparison

Train
Flight
Journey time 4h 2m 34m
Door-to-door

incl. check-in / airport

4h 32m

+30 min at station

3h 4m

+2h 30min at airport

CO2 emissions

avg. estimate per passenger

19,6 kg 121,6 kg
Est. ticket price

rough estimate only

~€38 ~€57
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 102,0 kg CO2 — 84% less than flying

Train: 19,6 kg CO2 · Flight: 121,6 kg CO2 (41g/km train vs 255g/km flight, European averages incl. radiative forcing)

Train
19,6 kg
Flight
121,6 kg

Door-to-Door Breakdown

Train

Faster door-to-door
Check-in at station 30 min
Journey time 4h 2m
Total door-to-door 4h 32m

Flight

Airport overhead 2h 30 min
Flight time 34m
Total door-to-door 3h 4m

Train tickets for this route

Aachen Hbf → Erstfeld · full route details

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is train or flight faster from Aachen Hbf to Erstfeld?
Train is faster door-to-door from Aachen Hbf to Erstfeld. The train takes 4h 32m door-to-door (including 4h 2m journey + 30 min station check-in), while flying takes 3h 4m (34m flight + 2h 30min airport overhead).
How much CO2 does the Aachen Hbf–Erstfeld train vs flight produce?
For the Aachen Hbf to Erstfeld route (477 km straight-line), the train produces approximately 19,6 kg of CO2 per passenger, while the flight produces approximately 121,6 kg. Taking the train saves 102,0 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 Aachen Hbf to Erstfeld?
Door-to-door travel time from Aachen Hbf to Erstfeld:
  • Train: 4h 32m total (4h 2m journey + 30 min station check-in)
  • Flight: 3h 4m total (34m flight + 2h 30min airport overhead for check-in, security, boarding, and taxi)
Is the Aachen Hbf to Erstfeld train worth it vs flying?
For this short-haul route from Aachen Hbf to Erstfeld, 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 Erstfeld, saving 102 kg of CO2 compared to flying.
How far is Aachen Hbf from Erstfeld?
The straight-line distance from Aachen Hbf to Erstfeld is 477 km. The actual rail distance will be longer (typically ~1.3× the straight-line distance) due to track routing.

Stations

Other routes from Aachen Hbf

Daten zuletzt aktualisiert: 2026-02-27