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Madrid and Barcelona benefit from Spain’s free travel plan
Spain is pushing to promote clean transport by offering free seasonal tickets for suburban and regional trains, which translates into 48 million trips per month. This initiative hopes to encourage citizens to reduce fuel consumption and reduce the cost of living during times of economic uncertainty and rising energy prices. A 30% discount for municipal public transport was announced earlier this summer, with local governments in areas such as Catalonia offering discounts of up to 60%. The program will be held between 1St September and 31St December.
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As the initiative is limited to suburban rail services, its applicability is limited as Spain’s infrastructure is not as extensive as countries that have adopted similar policies, such as Germany. Spain’s free travel plan benefits people living in large metropolitan areas, particularly around Madrid and Barcelona. These two urban areas account for 80% of the country’s suburban rail passengers. Other regions, like Galicia in northwestern Spain, will benefit less from the policy because of limited suburban rail infrastructure.
While state officials say the measure aims to publicize the benefits of more sustainable transit, it is designed to reduce the cost of living for Spanish citizens in difficult times by reducing the use of the car as an economic option. . The air conditioning is on during Spain’s hottest summer, as a heat wave prompts cities to take action to protect their citizens. The drought has limited hydroelectric power. Free and discounted tickets could ease the stress on low- and middle-income families as energy costs rise, although the measure won’t affect all regions uniformly.
This initiative is consistent with other policies around the world. Cities have been experimenting with free public transportation to promote sustainable mobility, alleviate traffic congestion, and reduce social inequality. In the year In late March, the Italian city of Genoa extended free access to some of its public transport networks, following a successful trial that began in late 2021 and an ambitious plan to become the first Italian city to go free. Meanwhile, the tiny dachy of Luxembourg has become the first country in the world to have free public transport by 2020.
News via Bloomberg.
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