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 threadJon WorthAug 15, 2023
And if your response is “ah but rail firms will add more capacity”, I’d point you to Thalys that hasn’t upped capacity in 2 decades despite rising demand and sky high prices. And SNCF that runs just 2 TGVs to Barcelona a day. Both easy to solve, both not done.
Show threadPatrice

@jon True. But it can happen. Austrian ÖBB has been adding more trains and is still increasing capacity as demand has grown.
All a matter of will

I think, an important issue has been the privatization of the rail network in the last few decades.

Aug 16, 2023 at 6:22amWeb
Show threadJon WorthAug 16, 2023
@patrice ÖBB is ace. I wish others would follow their approach!