[Edit] France bans short domestic flights

[Anti Federalist]

France Bans Short Haul Flight Routes, Passengers to Take Train Instead

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/202...train-instead/

OLIVER JJ LANE 5 Dec 2022

The French government has praised itself as a green “pioneer” after it got permission from the European Union to ban domestic short-haul flights, giving preference to railway travel instead.

Three short-haul flight routes from Paris to regional French cities have been banned following a 2021 law that has now been rubber-stamped by the European Commission.

Proposed in 2021, the climate law would outlaw any domestic flight which can be made by a train route that has regular services in less than two and a half hours, reports Euronews. The move to ban any airline from flying the routes was challenged by the Union of French Airports, which prompted the involvement of the European Commission to adjudicate the plan.

While eight routes had initially been proposed for state-mandated closure, the review by the Commission found that only three of them, from Paris to Nantes, Bordeaux, and Lyon were actually sufficiently served by the rail network.

While the journey times were under the two and a half hours limit, there were not enough trains running daily, Flight Global reports. Further routes could join the ban list in future if the rail network improves, it is said.

France’s transport minister Clement Beaune said he is “proud that France is a pioneer in this area”.

[luctor-et-emergo]

France’s transport minister Clement Beaune said he is “proud that France is a pioneer in this area”.

There's no pioneering in using bans to force people in a certain direction. That's been done before.

pioneering
adjective
groundbreaking; originating; -- of efforts that begin work in a field or on a topic not previously widely known.

[Occam's Banana]

France’s transport minister Clement Beaune said he is “proud that France is a pioneer in this area”.

What do you supposed the over/under is on the number of train trips this guy will be making with the peons (instead of flying by government-chartered jets)?

[luctor-et-emergo]

What do you supposed the over/under is on the number of train trips this guy will be making with the peons (instead of flying by government-chartered jets)?

You'd be surprised. When I still used trains as a student, I met quite a number of these politicians that took the train instead of a car.

[Brian4Liberty]

While the journey times were under the two and a half hours limit, there were not enough trains running daily, Flight Global reports. Further routes could join the ban list in future if the rail network improves, it is said.

At first read, I was surprised that a flight would take the same time as train travel. Then I realized the constraint was only on the train time, not the flight time. So potentially, a 20 minute flight is now a 2 1/2 hour train ride. That's progress.

[Brian4Liberty]

What do you supposed the over/under is on the number of train trips this guy will be making with the peons (instead of flying by government-chartered jets)?

I wonder how many train trips take over 2 1/2 hours, and thus would be exempt from this draconian new law?

Hmm, Here's an example, for those going to the WIRM conference:

From Zurich Airport there is a frequent train connection to Davos. The connection is:
Zurich Airport - Zurich Main Station - Landquart - Davos
You will need to change trains at Zurich Main Station and in Landquart. It takes 2:40 hours.

Over 2 1/2 hours. Plane flights still an option...

[luctor-et-emergo]

I wonder how many train trips take over 2 1/2 hours, and thus would be exempt from this draconian new law?

Hmm, Here's an example, for those going to the WIRM conference:



Over 2 1/2 hours. Plane flights still an option...

The train from Amsterdam to Paris takes about the same time as the flight (4.5hrs) if you include the bull$#@! at the airport.

But these people forget you can have priority, in which case, flying is much quicker (flight time + 1 hour = <2hrs).

[Occam's Banana]

You'd be surprised. When I still used trains as a student, I met quite a number of these politicians that took the train instead of a car.

Oh, I have no doubt there are many politicians and bureaucrats who might be doing so (whether motivated by earnest conviction, mere necessity, cynical public performance, or what-have-you) - especially from among their lower echelons.

But I am deeply skeptical there are many doing so regularly for 2.5 hours a day, especially from among the ranks of national cabinet ministers or other such august personages (i.e., the likes of Al Gore or John Kerry - or Clement Beaune).