France Aims to Raise Airline Ticket Taxes & Reduce Train Ticket Costs

The French government has announced plans to raise taxes on air tickets to help fund investments in the train infrastructure.

SchengenVisaInfo.com reports that France has explained its intention to encourage more people to take trains instead of flying to different destinations within and outside the country by investing in rail infrastructure and lowering train prices.

Clement Beaune announced the plans of the French government, stating that higher taxes will be implemented on tickets next year, as part of a new budget.

Minister Beaune also said that train travel has been increasing in popularity and that now is the time to make it affordable.

The country is also expecting to sell record numbers of train tickets in the summer.

"We will break a new record for tickets sold for train travel this summer. There is a desire to take the train, which we must support by lowering prices with the regions," Minister Beaune mentioned.

Minister Beaune also said that the authorities were considering the possibility of taxing aircraft fuels as part of the move. This tax, he said, is sustainable.

Minister Beaune has said that the price of train travel will officially be lowered by the summer next year.

Minister Beaune also said that the government wants to lower prices especially for young people and that different offers will be made to other groups of travelers.

"By next summer, we want to have a pass to travel, especially for young people, at a reduced and unlimited price," Minister Beaune stated.

In an earlier statement, Minister Beaune stated that French citizens pay lower prices for train tickets than their neighbouring European Union countries. The authorities are trying to encourage more environmentally friendly forms of transportation by further reducing the prices.

France has already reduced summer train fares to save locals and tourists money.

Euronews reports that more than 200,000 tickets for the fixed price EUR19 have been sold. It has also been revealed that many express trains in Hauts-de-France will be EUR1 until August 27.

The price for a set number of seats is EUR1. It's recommended that you buy your tickets in advance.

Source: schengenvisainfo.com