Greek trains (Hellenic Train) are second worst in Europe after Eurostar, a new report by leading sector publication Transport and Environment (T&E) shows.
The rankings in the report, unveiled this week, evaluate 27 rail operators across eight criteria, including ticket prices, reliability, and onboard amenities.
Eurostar, which links France, Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands, charges prices that are twice the European average yet ranked only 14th for reliability. It is the worst-performing rail operator among 27 companies in Europe, with a pricey and unreliable service.
Hellenic Train is being criticized for its reliability and passenger experience. At the same time, ticket prices remain high, while compensation policies and the overall booking experience need improvement. Passengers also point to the need for better night train services and more flexible policies for bicycle transportation.
“Our analysis shows that ticket prices do not correlate with higher service quality,” the report said.
Affordability is key for passengers choosing rail for long-distance travel, but T&E’s analysis shows some major operators fall short. Deutsche Bahn (DB), SNCF and Eurostar rank poorly in pricing, which accounts for 25 percent of the final score.
Greek Train and Eurostar are the laggards
Italy’s Trenitalia tops the list for best train service in Europe followed. Trenitalia was followed by Switzerland’s SBB with the Czech Republic’s RegioJet in third in the overall ranking. France’s SNCF was fifth just behind Austria’s OBB.
While Austria’s “OBB and Trenitalia offer a strong price-to-quality ratio, operators like EuByTasos Kokkinidisrostar charge nearly twice the European average price per kilometer, yet fail to deliver better services,” it said.
Instead, Trenitalia offers the best price-quality ratio, the report said. The study said all companies could improve their on-time performance.
“The reliability of major rail operators in Europe remains disappointing. Of the 25 operators with punctuality data, only 11 achieve a rate above 80 percent,” it said.
Reliability and ease of booking, also worth 15 percent of the ranking, are key to enhancing passenger experience. Swiss SBB, Belgium’s SNCB, and Spain’s Renfe lead in reliability, while Germany’s DB, Portugal’s CP, and Sweden’s Snälltåget rank lowest.
Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, the largest train operator in Europe and which is struggling with an aging network, was 25th in reliability and 16th overall.
T&E said the opening up of competition has improved service on several lines such as Madrid-Barcelona and Milan-Rome, but noted that privatization did not improve train service in Britain.
T&E also called on governments to invest in track networks to improve reliability and reduce fees on train operators in order to reduce ticket prices.
By Tasos Kokkinidis from Greek Reporter