2023-05-29 18:47:32
The Minister of Transport made a point of defending on Twitter his measure which officially entered into force last week to abolish domestic air links in the event of an alternative by TGV of less than 2 hours 30 minutes.
“Green washing” without effect for some. A punitive ecology for others. Clément Beaune wanted to respond to each other regarding the measure for the removal of domestic airlines if an alternative direct rail link of less than 2.5 hours is possible. Promise of the Head of State following the Citizen’s Climate Convention, this measure was published in the Official Journal on May 23.
But have all the flight connections been cut? This is not the case in practice. Only three airlines have been: Paris-Orly – Lyon, Paris-Orly – Nantes and Paris-Orly Bordeaux. Lines which moreover did not wait for the publication of the decree since their disappearance dates back to 2021.
Criticized, the measure was defended by the Minister of Transport in a long series of messages on Twitter.
“No, it’s not flan! Yes, it’s a first!”, Wrote Clément Beaune on Monday.
Regarding the fact that the lines no longer exist since 2021, the Minister recalls that it is in anticipation that the connections have been closed.
“Anticipating the ban, the lines in question have already closed, he explains. But they did not close by the operation of the Holy Spirit… they closed because this formal ban was coming. This shows that this rule is effective, not the other way around!”
Critics also relate to the low number of closed lines and point out that the same connections with Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport remain effective.
What the minister recognizes but there are two explanations for that. Firstly because the TGV journey between the airport in the north of Paris and the three cities exceeds the 2.5 hours provided for by the decree. Roissy has its own TGV station unlike Orly. However, the calculation of the journey time is made from this station and not from those in the center of Paris as is the case to justify the closure of the lines from Orly.
“Other lines will close”
Then, the Minister warns of the risks that would weigh on the regions to suddenly close all air links.
“Should they be closed now?, he wonders. It would have been difficult legally, but above all it would amount to depriving these metropolises, compared to Paris, of international connections essential to their economic life, employment local. We are not making a transport policy from/for Paris only.”
Clément Beaune promises, however, that other lines will be closed in the future.
“The list of rail alternatives in 2h30 will be reviewed every 6 months, he assures. Then, the decree is valid for 3 years: we can be more demanding as we go, by increasing the duration taken into account (at least less than 3 hours for example) or by restricting the current criteria.”
Regarding the critics who point to a facade of “punitive ecology”, the minister once more defends his action within the government:
“The same critics or their opponents (denouncing a “punitive ecology”) say that the essential is not to this extent. Of course! This is why an ecological transport policy must be much broader , complete and coherent.”
Clément Beaune thus lists the investments in the railways (100 billion euros by 2040), the metropolitan RERs or even public support for innovation concerning the plane of the future without emissions.
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