Train wins by 52 min door to door. Fastest train 3h21 (Paris-Nord → Köln Hbf (via Brussels)), ~5 direct trains/day. 5.8 g CO₂e per passenger-km by train. Checked 2026-11-01.
The comparison
| Fastest train | 3h21Paris-Nord → Köln Hbf (via Brussels) |
|---|---|
| Trains | ~5 direct trains/day (pickthetrain open-data average 5.4/day)Eurostar (ex-Thalys) |
| Flight | ~1h15 CDG-DUS (no CDG-CGN nonstop in picktheflight data; Air France flies CDG-DUS). Airports add travel, check-in and security time. |
| Door to door | Train wins by 52 min door to door |
| CO₂ | 5.8 g CO₂e per passenger-km by trainTrain: SNCF Voyageurs Info GES 2024, 'Eurostar Group' = 5.8 gCO2e/pkm (use phase only). Plane: the same document cites ADEME use-phase values of 159 g/pkm (<500 km flights) and 123 g/pkm (500-1000 km), without contrails; pick the band by flight distance. Left null here to avoid c |
| Points | Club Eurostar: 1 point per EUR 1 spent (1.2 per GBP 1); status bonus +25/50/75%. Redemptions on the ex-Thalys (continental) network were NOT changed on 29 Oct 2026: Eurostar Standard return 2,000 (Value) / 3,000 (Anytime), Eurostar Plus 4,000/5,000, Premier 6,000; one-way = half; no taxes/fees. |
Added. pickthetrain.com door-to-door model (its own assumptions: 1h30 airport check-in/security, 20 min to exit, typical-for-distance flight time, public-transport access estimates): train wins by 52 min (3h48 vs 4h40 via Düsseldorf).
Questions
Is the train faster than flying from Paris to Cologne?
Train wins by 52 min door to door. The fastest train takes 3h21 city centre to city centre; the flight is ~1h15 CDG-DUS (no CDG-CGN nonstop in picktheflight data; Air France flies CDG-DUS). Airports add travel, check-in and security time..
How often do trains run from Paris to Cologne?
~5 direct trains/day (pickthetrain open-data average 5.4/day)
Can I earn or use points on this train?
Club Eurostar: 1 point per EUR 1 spent (1.2 per GBP 1); status bonus +25/50/75%. Redemptions on the ex-Thalys (continental) network were NOT changed on 29 Oct 2026: Eurostar Standard return 2,000 (Value) / 3,000 (Anytime), Eurostar Plus 4,000/5,000, Premier 6,000; one-way = half; no taxes/fees.
Which emits less, train or plane?
5.8 g CO₂e per passenger-km by train.
Sources: pickthetrain.com, groupe-sncf.com, help.eurostar.com
Points or cash, or the train?
Tell Points or Cash where you are going. On short European trips it checks whether the train beats the flight before you spend a point.
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