Eventually, we'll have to either decide to get serious about not burning fossils, or not.
If we do become serious about it, there's no reason internal flights that can easily be replaced by slower rail today, shouldn't be pay as high taxes for fuel, as the cars do.
Cars can also be more convenient than transit, and we tax them for it.
By 2040? That is a very ambitious target by European standard. I would have thought they will still be in the planing stage. And unfortunately UK would not be part of it.
Sometimes I do admire the speed which China get things done.
They should figure out how to put a part of the 371B under military budgets, given that rail is the only serious way of war logistics at the moment.
I think the goal of reducing short flights isn’t bad (or rather decrease transportation CO2 emissions).
But, the way is not working: even today flights are faster and often cheaper than trains, with less delays.
Eventually, we'll have to either decide to get serious about not burning fossils, or not.
If we do become serious about it, there's no reason internal flights that can easily be replaced by slower rail today, shouldn't be pay as high taxes for fuel, as the cars do.
Cars can also be more convenient than transit, and we tax them for it.
Ah yes, The European Solution. Tax the better method until it’s at least as bad as the worse method.
Cheaper != Better.
That's why we need to make the worse method more expensive, so price sensitive buyers don't go for that one.
Because flights are massively subsidized. Also, passenger rail has to yield for freight as the latter brings on more money.
Personally I prefer high speed rail over flights where available. It is far more comfortable and end to end usually as fast as flying in Europe.
By 2040? That is a very ambitious target by European standard. I would have thought they will still be in the planing stage. And unfortunately UK would not be part of it.
Sometimes I do admire the speed which China get things done.
“Today, the European Commission is unveiling a comprehensive plan to accelerate the development of high-speed rail…
…the plan sets the ambition…
…In preparation for the plan, Commissioner Tzitzikostas held an Implementation Dialogue with relevant stakeholders…”
https://transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/commission-l...
The continent scale management system is an interesting challenge and could probably make for a good game also.
Jeez you could buy everyone in Europe an aeroplane for that.
An $824 aeroplane?
I saw someone on youtube the other day building a single seater out of cardboard. Could work, especially with economies of scale. /s