The Spanish authorities have decided to extend for at least the whole of 2023 the free travel by trains of the national network Renfe, first introduced in September 2022.
The Independent writes about this concerning the statement of the Minister of Finance of Spain Maria Jesus Montero.
The minister said that 700 million dollars have been pledged to finance this action.
According to her, the introduction of free train travel has already helped many Spanish citizens switch to public transport to reduce the number of harmful emissions into the atmosphere.
“We are going to turn this policy into a structural one, and we will see concrete results of public transport in terms of reducing CO2 emissions. This is a priority policy in the coming years,” the minister said.
It is worth noting that against the background of talks about the increase in the cost of air travel in Spain due to the upcoming environmental initiative of the EU, traveling by train can be a good substitute for airplanes.
Free train travel in Spain – how it works
The scheme for free travel in Spain on trains of the national Renfe network has been launched since September 1, 2022. Thus, the country’s authorities decided to help citizens cope with inflation by randomly reducing the number of harmful emissions into the atmosphere.
Free tickets can be obtained for journeys on Renfe Cercanías and Rodalies suburban trains, as well as on medium-distance regional lines (Media Distancia routes) covering a distance of less than 300 km.
Both Spanish citizens and foreigners can use the service. However, the measure is aimed primarily at season ticket holders, not tourists, as long-distance journeys and high-speed trains are not included. However, travelers can register online for a Mas Renfe card and show the QR code to station staff to use the scheme.
Long-distance passengers can also get a 50% discount on their tickets under this scheme, and all metro, bus, and tram tickets can be reduced by at least 30%.