April 17, 2019 - 6:08 AM
BERLIN - Germany's transport minister is calling for a cut in tax on long-distance train travel to encourage more people to travel by rail and advance climate protection.
Andreas Scheuer told Wednesday's edition of mass-circulation daily Bild that value-added tax on long-distance train tickets should be cut from 19 per cent to the reduced rate of 7 per cent that is levied on many essential everyday items. He said that would save railway travellers up to 400 million euros ($452 million) per year.
Railway journeys of up to 50 kilometres (31 miles) are already taxed at 7 per cent.
The German government recently set up a "climate Cabinet" to co-ordinate efforts to combat climate change. Scheuer has been accused of being overly reluctant to take on the powerful auto industry and tackle car emissions.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019