Plane ✈️ vs. Train 🚄: A Detailed Comparison of Domestic Travel Across Great Britain

For journeys within Great Britain, the choice between air and rail travel is rarely as simple as looking at a flight time. While a domestic flight might promise a rapid one-hour transit, a closer look at the entire door-to-door experience often reveals that the seemingly slower train can be more competitive in terms of total time, cost, and stress.

From the "hidden" inconveniences of airport security to the city-centre ease of the railway, this article explores the friction points and benefits of how we move across the country in 2026.

A Comparative Analysis: Bus Franchising Legislation Across the UK

The landscape of public transport in Great Britain is undergoing its most significant structural shift since the mid-1980s. As of January 2026, the transition from a deregulated commercial market to a "franchised" model—where local authorities control routes, fares, and branding—has reached a critical turning point.

Note on Northern Ireland: It is important to distinguish Great Britain from the UK as a whole in this context. Northern Ireland never adopted the 1986 deregulation model; instead, it maintains a publicly owned system under Translink, meaning the current franchising reforms do not apply there.

Legislative Framework Comparison

The following table breaks down the primary acts and the legal hurdles required to implement franchising:

London Bus Tender Awards: New Electric Buses for Routes 109/N109, 119, 197, 353, 407, 645 & 664

As we are in the middle of January 2026, Transport for London (TfL) has announced that more routes will use double-deck electric buses—specifically routes 109/N109, 119, 197, 353, 407, 645 and 664—as part of the new route contracts.

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

Transport for London Terminates Route 38 Contract Early Amidst Ongoing Consultation on Proposed Changes to Routes 19 and 38

⚠️ Just to clarify: when a contract is terminated early, it does not mean that the route is withdrawn or changed immediately. Route 38 continues to run in its current routing.

Structure of proposed changes to routes 19 and 38
TfL Image

I don't usually publish the tendering programme updates by Transport for London (TfL), as I mostly report on the London Bus Tender Awards on my site.

 

However, a consultation on the proposal to amend routes 19 and 38, with a potential new route 10, is currently being hosted on the TfL 'Have Your Say' website.

Transport for London Reveals Usage and Revenue for Bakerloop BL1 Bus Route

Transport for London (TfL) has revealed the usage and costs of the Bakerloop BL1 express bus service, which runs parallel to the proposed London Underground Bakerloo line extension.

Request ID: FOI-3475-2526
Date published: 09 January 2026

London Bus Tender Awards: New Electric Buses for Routes 102, 322, 233 and SL10

Transport for London has released the first announcement of the London Bus Tender Awards for 2026.

It confirms that routes 102, 322, 433, and Superloop Route SL10 will be served by new electric buses as part of the new route contracts.

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

Vote on which TfL service should be next for 24-hour weekend travel alongside the Night Tube and Overground?

A Superloop bus was spotted at the New Year's Eve 2026 fireworks.

Happy New Year 2026 to all my readers! I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating the start of the year, whether you were at the heart of the festivities or enjoying a quieter evening with friends and family.

As we step into January, it is worth reflecting on the vital role played by Transport for London (TfL) last night. Navigating the city after the midnight celebrations can often be a challenge, but thanks to the provision of overnight services, Londoners were given several reliable alternatives to the night bus network to ensure a smooth journey home.