this post was submitted on 01 Sep 2023
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[โ€“] letmesleep@feddit.de 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

"I openly call for taxing polluting activities to invest in the ecological transition," said Beaune, adding that the government plans to increase the tax on flights departing France to fund rail investments.

I don't think it's entirely clear what he wants the EU to do, but it really seems like making other forms of transport cheaper is part the goal here.

Hence I think it's likely going to be a reasonable proposal. Making flights more expensive to pay for cheaper trains is a good way to go about it. The money for the trains to come from somewhere and flights are something people can live without.

[โ€“] notepass@feddit.de 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes, if it is done in the right order. Make trains cheaper first, then add to the cost of airlines. Knowing politics it will be "We will now tax flights with an additonal X% and use that for alternative travels". Then, 10 years later, the "alternative travels" will be the same price but flying will be more expensive. I just do not trust politics anymore at all if they do not put the "lowering costs" part first.

[โ€“] letmesleep@feddit.de 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Make trains cheaper first, then add to the cost of airlines.

Then you have a gap regarding financing. I.e. also a problem. Hence I really don't care about the order here. Both trains becoming cheaper and plains becoming more expensive are things that need to happen asap. I would prefer both to happen tomorrow, but if one happens later or not all all that's still better than nothing happening.

[โ€“] notepass@feddit.de 0 points 1 year ago

Yes, and that gap in financing will make them haul their asses. As they now have to get the money and have already given the benefit out. And for the meantime, they can probably scrape together money from a few other places. Maybe a road will get delayed for a year or something.