Continental rail travel ‘cheaper
The RMT union also said the London-Scotland journey was more expensive per mile in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire than in other areas.
However, rail company GNER said the union’s analysis was flawed as it used only the most expensive fares.
Off-peak day returns were cheaper than on French or Belgian railways, it said.
The RMT said GNER was expensive because it had to pay the Treasury £1 billion for its 10-year franchise.
“The RMT warned that the only way this money could be raised was by raising fares and cutting services,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said.
Comparing the cost of single-fare tickets, the union said a standard one-way journey from London to York (187 miles) costs £70, while in Belgium a similar journey would cost £22.68, and in France £22.25.
In a comparison of domestic prices, passengers travelling from London to York pay 38p a mile standard class and 63p a mile in first class on a return journey.
This compared with 34p a mile standard class and 52p a mile first class for the longer return journey between London and Newcastle.
Making a return journey between Edinburgh and London costs 25p per mile standard class and 36p per mile first class.
More: news.bbc.co.uk
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