2023-08-07 15:00:14
Taxes to support rail
The Minister Delegate for Transport, Clément Beaune, recently confirmed than the 2024 budget plans to increase taxes on airline tickets. This decision aims to increase investment in the rail sector. The Minister also declared “a lot of people tell us that they are shocked that the plane is cheaper than the train”.
According to one statement made on RMCthe minister stressed that this increase is not for the simple pleasure of taxing, but to finance investments in the train. He added that many citizens are shocked to find that air travel is often cheaper than rail, hence the need to invest more in rail..
The price difference between air train tickets and train tickets
Despite various occasional promotions from the SNCF and the State, the train is generally more expensive than the plane in France. Greenpeace has even pointed out that the train can cost up to twice as much as the plane. Faced with this reality, the increase in taxes on airline tickets aims to reduce this price gap. On the other hand, the Minister reaffirmed the need to reinvest in rail: “There will be a tax on plane tickets, which we will reinforce in the 2024 budgets. Not for the pleasure of taxing but to reinforce the investment in the train, because we need investments in the railways, to reinforce new trains”.
In addition to the tax on airline tickets, discussions are underway at European level to tax kerosene. However, these discussions are moving slowly. Clement Beaune stressed the importance of a unified approach, stating that it would be pointless to have a kerosene tax in France if other countries like Germany or Italy do not adopt it. Such a tax might be put in place “within a few months”, offering a more equitable and environmentally necessary solution.
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