Fancy travelling lighter for the planet? The train is the eco-friendly means of transport par excellence: on an equivalent journey, it emits far less CO₂ than a plane or a car. With OUIGO, this low-carbon mobility becomes accessible at a low price. We'll give you the orders of magnitude, the OUIGO commitment and a few ideas for greener holidays.
As the biggest contributor to national CO2 emissions (25%), the transport sector faces a major decarbonisation challenge. In this context, high speed rail is an essential lever for ecological transition: it emits on average 95% fewer greenhouse gases (GHG) than other long-distance transport*. With a footprint of less than 1% of the sector's emissions, choosing the train is a strategic and responsible choice for the planet.
All in all, travelling long distance by train rather than by car or plane means cutting your greenhouse gas emissions by 95% on average. On short and medium distances, the gap is particularly striking.
In France, transport alone accounts for around 31% of greenhouse gas emissions, ahead of buildings, agriculture and industry. It's therefore the area where our travel choices weigh the most.
Choosing the train for your journeys is a concrete way of acting on this footprint, without giving up the pleasure of travelling. Responsibility doesn't rest on the shoulders of one person alone, but every journey counts.
Making low-carbon high speed accessible to as many people as possible is part of OUIGO's DNA. Low prices and sustainability go hand in hand: optimised, full trains for a reduced impact per traveller.
The train opens the door to gentler holidays: nearby getaways, slower rhythms, city centre to city centre. Eco-responsible, labelled campsites, bike rides, islands where cars have no place… and always the train to get there.
With OUIGO, these low-carbon-footprint trips stay accessible at low prices. Proof that you can travel greener without going without or breaking the bank.
Is the train really greener than the plane?
Yes. On an equivalent journey, a plane emits roughly 40 times more CO₂ than a train, as an order of magnitude.
How much does the train emit compared with the car?
Travelling by train rather than by car greatly reduces your footprint: over 200 km, a car emits around 25 times more CO₂. Across all distances, the train cuts emissions by 95% on average.
Is OUIGO an accessible eco-friendly means of transport?
Yes. OUIGO makes low-carbon high speed accessible at a low price, from €19 on OUIGO High Speed and from €10 on OUIGO Train Classique.
(*): Source Base Empreinte ADEME 2024 and Carbone 4 comparative analysis. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, expressed in CO2 equivalent (CO2e), of long-distance trains are calculated in accordance with the methodological guide for GHG information on transport services published by the French State and certified by statutory auditors. These values correspond to an average expressed in passenger-kilometres and cover the whole life cycle (use, manufacture and maintenance of rolling stock). The comparison is made between a long-distance train journey in France, a short-haul flight, a long-distance coach and a car, based on a representative mix of the French vehicle fleet (petrol/diesel and electric cars) with an average occupancy rate (2.2 passengers for long-distance journeys in France, in line with ADEME data).
Travelling by train rather than by car greatly reduces your footprint: over 200 km, a car emits around 25 times more CO₂. Across all distances, the train cuts emissions by 95% on average.
Yes. OUIGO makes low-carbon high speed accessible at a low price, from €19 on OUIGO High Speed and from €10 on OUIGO Train Classique.
(*): Source Base Empreinte ADEME 2024 and Carbone 4 comparative analysis. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, expressed in CO2 equivalent (CO2e), of long-distance trains are calculated in accordance with the methodological guide for GHG information on transport services published by the French State and certified by statutory auditors. These values correspond to an average expressed in passenger-kilometres and cover the whole life cycle (use, manufacture and maintenance of rolling stock). The comparison is made between a long-distance train journey in France, a short-haul flight, a long-distance coach and a car, based on a representative mix of the French vehicle fleet (petrol/diesel and electric cars) with an average occupancy rate (2.2 passengers for long-distance journeys in France, in line with ADEME data).
