It's a long-held theory that flying is much cheaper than taking the train in Britain - and this is certainly often true when you compare ticket prices.

But rail industry bosses have released a new study which they claim shows travelling by train can actually be up to 70 per cent cheaper on similar routes than taking the plane,when accounting for extra costs such as hold baggage and seat selection.

They also said going by plane takes longer than by train door-to-door for four out of six domestic routes examined,and rail is up to 17 times greener than flying.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) claimed trains are £250 cheaper than flights on the London to Manchester route,which has seven times more rail services than flights.

The routes examined were London to Glasgow; London to Edinburgh; Manchester to London; Aberdeen to Manchester; London to Newcastle; and Edinburgh to Exeter.

But there was no mention of long-running strike action that has crippled services in recent years; poor performance that saw cancellations in England and Wales rise 8 per cent in the past year; or average train fares increasing by 5 per cent in March.

It comes as Government legislation designed to help nationalise train operation in the UK is now moving closer to becoming law after Labour won the election.

The study claimed trains are £250 cheaper than flight on the London to Manchester route,which has seven times more rail services than flights. Manchester Piccadilly station is pictured

Patricia Yates,chief executive at VisitBritain/VisitEngland,said: 'Traveling by train is a cost effective and sustainable way to explore Britain this summer.

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'Rail travel opens up iconic destinations and attractions to visitors with hidden gems and stunning scenery revealed along the way.

'The ease and convenience of hopping on a train means visitors can access less explored destinations and local businesses,in a relaxing and environmentally friendly way,encouraging visitors to discover more and stay longer,boosting local economies.'

And Silviya Barrett from the Campaign for Better Transport said: 'Choosing to travel more sustainably whenever we can is one of the most effective things we can do to reduce our impact on the planet.

'This new report backs up our own research and shows that taking the train not only saves carbon emissions,it can also get you there quicker,save you the hassle of airport security and leave you more spending money in your pocket this summer.'