Will they allow building good alternatives or find reasons to also oppose building them? HSR would compete well in many more markets, but it needs a lot of political support to get it built.
Seems like a ploy for relevancy. I mean, the EU is pumping hundreds of billions into upgrading existing and building new infrastructures. Asking them to do something that already has been in the works for over a decade. Fehmarn completes in 2027/29, Turin-Lyon & Madrid-Lisboa seeing completion in the first half of the 30’s. Just to name a few projects. Aside from that, many countries are already banning short haul flight (FR, NL from the top of my head, with others following).
Getting support is always good. What about the next election cycle? How do we keep reminding politicians that we want good and competent public transport? Only because it’s being done now does not mean it’s a done deal. It only takes a small group of cunts to Americanise our county, remember that.
Edit: typo.
Remember that Europe is not the US, not even “yet”. These projects have majority support, have been going through liberal, socialist, centrist and populists governments and still moving forward. Stop thinking in election cycles, that’s what is keeping the US back. China, EU and others all have committed long term projects that transcend short term politics, local and global events. Something the US could learn from.
I agree with you. I also think that long term support is necessary for these projects to remain unmolested by austerity politics, the auto industry, the price-dumping airline industry and other adversaries of public infrastructure.
