Letter: Cost of high-speed trains
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Murray Hughes (letter, 22 May) cites the expected increase in the share of Paris-Brussels travel held by train as evidence of the popularity of high-speed trains. He does not say what the subsidy on this line is, but according to a recent report from your Paris correspondent, less than half the cost of the French TGV system is covered by fares. Would these trains be so popular if passengers had to pay the full costs?
One traditional justification for subsidising railways is to divert traffic from the environmentally damaging modes of travel by air and road. But it is not clear that high-speed trains, as distinct from conventional trains, are more environmentally friendly than air. Moreover, by releasing airport slots now used for short routes such as London-Paris or Paris- Brussels for longer air journeys, the introduction of high-speed trains actually increases air travel.
Very little car travels consists of journeys between the centres of large cities, which are the natural market for high-speed trains. It is certainly desirable to reverse the trend towards longer car journeys, but subsidies to the competition are an expensive and ineffective way of doing so. The problem is best tackled by lower and better enforced speed limits, perhaps accompanied by increases in the cost of motoring.
We need better rural and regional passenger services and more rail freight. We do not need high-speed trains.
STEPHEN PLOWDEN
London NW1
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments