Well, 1960s had cars and people were using these for long distance travel due to the lack of other options. My dad, for example, drove his shitty car from Berlin to the south of Spain and back.

• I think the issue may be split in two - for some, the younger and poorer, cost is the limiting factor - they are willing to put up with longer travel times but cannot stem the additional financial burden. For older and more settled people (which I am transitioning to slowly) and my parents are in, comfort trumps price at all times. They will take the fastest, most direct route. They would fly even if it cost 2-3x more (which, for them, it does since they will take the premium airlines over budget).

• Going back to individual vehicles is, in my opinion, not a great solution. I am hopeful that we will find ways to have short distance air travel use more green options (electrical?) in the near-to-mid future, therefore eliminating the need to curb the undoubtably huge demand.

Up to you. I never understood that attitude, people act like air travel is the only one subsidized, meanwhile (at least in Germany), everything from tracks to new vehicles, tickets (like the 49€ ticket) to covering of losses is subsidized by our taxes. And they are still way too expensive.

Meanwhile, airplanes are actually shockingly efficient per kg/km travelled - the train is just even more efficient. Most of the airlines even give you an option to offset your CO² footprint for the flight. Taking the difference between train and air travel and donating it to a worthy cause would likely be the most valuable option from a world saving standpoint.

But that’s neither here nor there, I understand it’s about feeling good as much as it is about efficiency.

Use thetrainline.com for international train travel. I found these for you as an example. 144€, 8 hours, change in Paris. Meanwhile, flying is <60€, under 2 hours.

I know what I would choose, haha.

Booked a flight from Vienna to Tallinn for 16€ quite literally 5 minutes ago.

I think the discussion is just misdirected: There are distances, even within Europe, that are so large a train won’t do it, no matter how cheap it is. Most people will not sit in a train for 10 hours when they can fly for 1 1/2. It turns out, going 800 km/h in a straight line is just more convenient. Who knew.

Now, do I think trains should be cheaper? Yes, most fares do not reflect at all the level of service you receive.

Do I think inter-european rail connections will ever catch on? lolno, bar the few train aficionados.

There are really only two options: Either we all stay within a radius in our lives that resembles that of let’s say the 1960’s - or we fly.

Me. AMA.

I’m honest, I still don’t get the universe concept. I am going on the site via feddit, which is the German version, I guess? If I want to see everything, I need to go to lemmy.world? If I get an app for it, what would it route me to?

It should be fine after a while if people stay here, but for now it’s still in its infancy when it comes to user friendliness, I think.

I think the main issue is UK won’t accept they’ll be treated like everybody else in the union. There is still an expectation of privilege that is severely misplaced in the context of what has been going on.

If none of this was an issue, I am sure EU would be happy to quickly let them rejoin. Having the UK in the EU strengthens Europe’s position, they have shown to defend Democratic values in Ukraine and, once they’ve come to grips with the end of their exceptionalism on the world stage, they’ll be a valuable asset in the world’s attempts to progress.

Coming to grips with that as a nation will be painful though, so I expect it to take a while unless something drastic happens.