The NGO network Transport & Environment (T&E), the railway undertaking Flixtrain and the online train ticket sales company Trainline have called on EU Member States to reduce rail tolls on night trains, cross-border trains and some passenger trains, in a letter published on Thursday 28 March.
“Travelling by rail instead of flying can decrease emissions by up to -97% on specific routes”, they pointed out. What’s more, the train ticket price for consumers is one important decision factor and it is by large parts constituted by the rail tolls.
They are asking Member States to reduce rail tolls for high-capacity trains and to reduce rail tolls for night trains and cross-border trains. They believe that passenger trains should aim at offering as many seats as possible per train to incentivise a high load factor.
The alliance is also calling on the European Commission to revise the Single European Railway Area Directive (2012/34/EU) in order to set incentives for lower rail tolls. “The upcoming guidelines will not be sufficient to achieve change”, it said. Going on to conclude, “Legislative action is needed to stop excessive tolls”.
Read the letter: https://aeur.eu/f/bju (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)