Yeah, and that's after they had been publicly funded, amortised, and then sold on the cheap to private company. The perfect example of how not to do it.

It used to be done properly, for things like long bridges and such, where there would be a toll until the invested money was recovered.

Also, there is still the extensive network of nationales, départementales, and other streets and avenue that are still free.

nor is their fuel - electric or oil.

shoes aren't free either

Cool, so you would like the Government to fund construction and maintenance of the rails as long as the operation of trains is ticketed? :)