EU slams by airlines for bias towards rail travel

The European Regions Airline Association (ERA) has challenged the cost benefits of high-speed rail and has told the European Union that it should reconsider its “blatant bias” for costly high-speed rail networks contending that rail is not as environmentally friendly as promoted. ERA has told the EU it should move to boost competitiveness and duplicate successful plane-train links. “There is a blatant bias toward rail,” Simon McNamara, deputy director general of ERA. “The scales are tipped in that mode’s favour and we think that needs to be corrected, and we hope this study will start that process.”