As airlines cut fares, rail trips will cost staycationers up to three times ...

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Four in five long journeys in the UK cost more by train than by plane – by nearly three times the price in some cases.

The huge differences were revealed as airlines launch dozens of cheap domestic routes amid a boom in staycations this year.

Taking the train was more expensive in the majority of cases, Which? researchers found, with the average mark-up 49 per cent.

The biggest difference was for a return journey from Birmingham to Newquay, in Cornwall, with flights costing £67 and the train coming in at £180 – some 2.7 times more.

The consumer champion said the price advantage for flying is a disaster for the environment, given the huge amount of greenhouse gases created by flying.

CO2 emissions from planes are on average six times those caused by taking the train – meaning travellers face a tough choice between cheaper, shorter flights or the more environmentally friendly train route.

Last month, Boris Johnson came under fire for flying to Cornwall for the G7 event while the Queen set an example by travelling by train.