European railway companies have different approaches to pricing, service quality and reliability. We have compiled a rating of the best and worst operators for travellers. Find out which carriers can provide comfortable journeys

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Transport & Environment (T&E), an organisation specialising in sustainable transport and energy, has presented its first ranking of European railway operators. The study covered 27 companies and identified industry leaders and outsiders.

The rating showed that railway services in Europe often do not meet passengers' expectations. High ticket prices do not always mean better quality, and reliability and accessibility remain key issues.

The best railway companies in Europe are

1. Trenitalia (Italy)

The Italian operator was ranked first thanks to a combination of a convenient travel experience, affordable prices and high quality service.

2. SBB (Switzerland)

The Swiss railway company is considered to be the most punctual in Europe, which is especially important for passengers who value accuracy.

3. RegioJet (Czech Republic)

This operator offers some of the most affordable tickets while maintaining a decent quality of service.

The worst railway companies in Europe

1. Eurostar (UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany)

Despite its status as an international carrier, Eurostar is in the last place in the ranking. High ticket prices and low reliability have made it the worst choice for travelling.

2. Avanti (UK)

The operator also received negative ratings for high fares and poor service quality.

At the same time, Deutsche Bahn (DB, Germany) and SNCF (France) were criticised for having too high ticket prices, which makes travel less affordable for a wide audience.

Operators such as CP (Portugal) and Snälltåget (Sweden) demonstrated poor punctuality rates.

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Favourable prices, reliability and punctuality

The rating highlighted the companies with the most favourable prices

- BDZ (Bulgaria)

- CP (Portugal)

- Hellenic Trains (Greece)

- SJ (Sweden)

- Italo and Trenitalia (Italy)

Austrian ÖBB and Italian Trenitalia stand out as the best value for money in Europe.

The most convenient for booking are

- SBB (Switzerland)

- DB (Germany)

- ÖBB (Austria)

These companies offer convenient platforms for buying tickets, including through external websites.

You can also use the convenient booking service on the Visit Ukraine portal. Buy tickets quickly and reliably.

Among the most reliable operators are

- SBB (Switzerland)

- SNCB (Belgium)

- Renfe (Spain)

Meanwhile, only 11 out of 27 carriers showed punctuality above 80%.

The EU needs reforms

T&E stressed that the railway industry needs reforms. In particular, ticket prices should be made more affordable to attract more passengers. And EU member states and operators should work to improve punctuality and convenience of travel.

‘The potential of the railways is huge, but to unlock it, it is necessary to make services more attractive and accessible to passengers,’ said Victor Tevene, Railway Policy Manager.

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We remind you! Recently, Ukrzaliznytsia announced the launch of a new international railway route, which opens up additional opportunities for travelling between Ukraine and Poland.

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