Here’s a random idea to start off the week:

What would happen if the law in Europe became: For each city pair A and B, the price of the cheapest flight between them has to be higher than that of the most expensive train ticket(s)?

Twelve months in advance, train operators would have to signal to the airlines what their highest ticket price will be (or maybe a price point at which 90% of their tickets will be sold for less than), and the airlines would have to adapt to that.

As competition with national train operators now enters the European train system (by law), it is unlikely this will artificially inflate train ticket prices. Demand is still demand, and competition works.

There is no real reason why a flight from A to B should cost less than a train from A to B. Certainly no environmental reason, and as for “convenience” (a modern way of saying you will pay extra cash to “save” time by flying), it still makes no sense.

Any unintended consequences of my crazy idea you can see? Feel free to comment on the Facebook post here.

[PS: a properly implemented carbon tax would probably have the same effect and perhaps less complexity]