1

I have a language course booked in two weeks in Barcelona and would like to get there either by train or bus (due to 'flight shame') from Germany in times of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Going by train would mean traveling via Cologne (Germany), Brussels, Paris (that makes me really afraid), on the return journey via Paris and Frankfurt Main (Germany). However, there is also a Flixbus directly going to Barcelona from Frankfurt.

Though I already booked the train tickets via Paris, I could stil get a refund and thereby get most of the money back. :-) So what would you say, is it safer to travel by bus rather than by train?

However, I was also wondering whether trains aren't equally safe as buses, since I could just stand all the time in a TGV in the floor or just sit on my luggage where there aren't so many people?

Improve this question
6
  • 4
    I'm not sure we have remotely the access to the data to answer this. Given the pretty low infection numbers so far, it's definitely down to chance as much as anything else.
    – CMaster
    Commented Mar 4, 2020 at 18:14
  • @Kyralessa You might like to take a look at this worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries Handwashing is unlikely to help if the OP finds himself on a bus or train sitting next to or near someone with the virus
    – Traveller
    Commented Mar 4, 2020 at 19:41
  • 2
    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is impossible to answer.
    – gerrit
    Commented Mar 4, 2020 at 20:06
  • 1
    I mean, really, if you are so concerned, just plan to cancel going to the course.
    – xuq01
    Commented Mar 4, 2020 at 20:50
  • 2
    What is 'flight shame'?
    – Richard Beasley
    Commented Mar 4, 2020 at 21:57

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

It is somewhat hard to answer this one. You obviously concerned, but not enough to forfeit the course and cancel the trip. You are a bit afraid, but not enough so to overcome you 'flight shame' and hop on a direct plane.

However, you are afraid enough to consider either spending a 25-hour trip on a Flixbus or a 13-hour train trip standing on the corridor. For some reason you are more afraid of Paris than Cologne or Barcelona, and more afraid of trains than buses.

At this point, my honest suggestion is that you do whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

Given that you have already decided to travel, and to travel by either train or bus, the choice between those two matters little.

On a train, you'll be in a carriage with 120 people. A dozen or so in close proximity to you. In a bus you'll be with 60 people. A dozen or so in close proximity to you. There is no evidence that one is significantly riskier than the other.

If you want to minimise your time with people, take a plane or rent a car.

Improve this answer
4
  • But then, two hours on the plane is probably enough to catch the virus if anyone in close proximity is infected - judging from the number of colds I caught on planes over the years...
    – Sabine
    Commented Mar 4, 2020 at 19:44
  • At least on a plane passengers don’t get on and off during the journey. The question is impossible to answer.
    – Traveller
    Commented Mar 4, 2020 at 19:47
  • Plus on a plane air is supposed to fully refreshed/filtered I believe every 2 minutes or so?
    – kiradotee
    Commented Mar 4, 2020 at 21:11
  • According to tripsavvy.com/air-quality-during-your-flight-54164, because of the high-efficiency filters on most commercial airlines and the frequency the air is recirculated and filtered, the air you're breathing on a flight is likely much cleaner and less contaminated than most office buildings and is on par with the air in most hospitals. This smartertravel.com/avoiding-airplane-cold-dont-get-sick-flying indicates low cabin humidity is the likely culprit because it reduces the body’s natural defence system.
    – Traveller
    Commented Mar 4, 2020 at 23:36