Spain launches €60 monthly travel pass for unlimited rail and bus journeys
The new flat-rate ticket will cover commuter trains and state buses across Spain from mid-January
Spain is about to introduce a nationwide travel pass that will allow unlimited journeys on
commuter trains, regional rail services and state-run buses for a flat rate of €60 per month, President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has announced.
"This will forever change how Spaniards understand and use public transport," President Sánchez explained during a press conference on Monday December 15. He added that it represents "a very strong commitment to sustainable mobility and also to the middle and working classes, because this means savings for many families in our country."
The new single pass will be available from January 15. While it’s been welcomed by most, detractors point out that it still falls far short of similar schemes operating in Austria and Germany, since it doesn’t include metro and urban bus networks.
Young people aged 26 and under will be able to purchase the pass for €30 per month.
The government estimates that around 2 million people who regularly travel between different provinces will benefit from the scheme.
According to Mr Sánchez, "a worker who commutes daily from Vigo to Santiago or from Jerez to Sevilla can save up to almost 60% of their monthly public transport expenses thanks to this pass."
The pass will be valid for 30 days and can be used on Renfe commuter and regional trains, excluding high-speed services, as well as buses operating routes that connect different autonomous communities.
Passengers will be able to purchase the pass through operator websites, mobile apps, ticket offices and self-service machines, which will issue a locator code to be used when buying individual journey tickets.
The current subsidies, which were implemented following the inflation crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine, offer discounts of up to 40% on transport passes and 50% on youth passes, with the central government contributing 20% matched by regional authorities.
Monthly passes for Cercanías commuter rail will continue at €20 per month and discounts of between 40% and 70% on state-owned interregional buses will remain in place. Children up to 14 years old will continue to travel free, fully funded by the Ministry of Transport.
The decree is also expected to extend the 50% discount on Avant train passes and other medium-distance trains, as well as the 50% discount for 10-trip tickets.
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