Some European governments are re-thinking public transport options amid a rapidly rising cost of living.
Spain will soon make some short- and medium-distance train journeys completely free from September 1 until the year-end.
The free rides are not aimed at the tourism industry but are available to all and could be useful to tourists. The free pass is not for single journeys. It will only apply to passes with 10 or more return trips, on metropolitan and certain regional routes on state-owned rail service Renfe’s ‘Cercanias’, ‘Rodalies’ and ‘Media Distancia’ services, maximum of 300km.
The aim of the scheme is to lessen the impact of the cost-of-living crisis in Spain. See Renfe’s official website.
Spain has already reduced fares by 50% on state-owned public transport such as Metropolitan train routes
In June, Germany also introduced a nationwide E9 public transport pass for the summer and is already under pressure to extend the scheme, which was originally designed to end at the end of August this year.
The German scheme is open to all, residents and visitors alike, and allows unlimited travel across the country for €9 (R157) per month. It is valid for travel on buses, trams, regional trains and underground rail networks.
The aim of the German scheme is to encourage the use of public transport over private cars and to help ease the burden of recent steep cost of living increases, many of them related to the oil supply crisis. It has been popular and lobby groups now want the government to extend the pass.
