Jon WorthAug 15, 2023

Missing the point

Yes taxation rates matter. But France-Spain and France-Belgium trains are expensive to take *because the capacity is too low*

If you reduce ticket prices on those routes you WON’T TRANSPORT MORE PEOPLE. Just different people. As the trains are full anyway

So, Clement Beaune, how are you going to get more TGVs to Barcelona?

https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/08/10/france-is-raising-taxes-on-flights-to-pay-for-trains-should-other-european-countries-do-th

Why are flights cheaper than trains in Europe?

Train travel is often more expensive than flying. Could taxing aviation to invest in the rail industry help change that?

euronews
Show thread@[email protected]Aug 15, 2023

@jon > If you reduce ticket prices on those routes you WON’T TRANSPORT MORE PEOPLE. Just different people.

Yes, trains should be accessible for poor people as well. This is good?

Absolutely also build more capacity so that there's enough for everyone.

Show threadJon WorthAug 15, 2023
@pettter and sure, mobility for people on a limited budget matters. But rail’s modal share also matters. To get prices down you need capacity up as a matter of utmost importance *at the start*.
Show thread@[email protected]Aug 15, 2023
@jon It takes time to add capacity. In the meantime, prices should be lower.
Show thread@[email protected]
@jon As for "assuming the rail company will add more capacity", if it doesn't voluntarily it should be made to do so. By nationalising it, if necessary.
Aug 15, 2023 at 7:36amWeb
Show threadJon WorthAug 15, 2023

@pettter LOL. You looked at who owns the capacity limiting firms?

Yeah, states.

Show thread@[email protected]Aug 15, 2023
@jon OK, so that means there should be levers for political control, and less barriers to imposing democratic mandates than working through market mechanisms.
Show threadJon WorthAug 15, 2023
@pettter Maybe… https://crossborderrail.trainsforeurope.eu/belfort-delemont-yes-crossborderrail-to-france-can-always-get-worse/
Belfort-Delémont - yes, #CrossBorderRail to France can always get worse - #CrossBorderRail

It was one of the weirder experiences of my #CrossBorderRail project last year. I had arrived in Belfort in eastern France from Besançon, and needed to get to Delémont in Switzerland. There is a line between the two, but Swiss trains mostly depart from the TGV station that is 10km […]

#CrossBorderRail
Show threadWalter van HolstAug 15, 2023
@pettter @jon The member states simply don’t care enough about public transit, let alone cross-border rail. The ownership of the rail companies is pretty orthogonal to the matter.