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

@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.

@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*.
@jon Also, to be clear, the article states that the increased taxes on air traffic should be used to _invest in the rail industry in order to lower prices_, not that those price reductions should come about (only) through straight transfers to ticket prices.