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Train Journeys In Spain Will Be Free This Autumn Spain News

From September 1, short train journeys on various routes run by state-owned Renfe will be completely free.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez who confirmed the news that will be warmly received by Spanish rail commuters.

Under the new measures, multi-ticket journeys on the Cercanías and Rodalies lines, along with those on regional lines of less than 300km (Media Distancia), will be complimentary until December 31.

Long-distance train journeys and single trips will not be included meaning that it will be season ticket holders that will benefit rather than tourists or those taking one-off trips.

Journeys via other rail firms will also not be covered under the new measures.

Sánchez said that the move was in response to the cost of living crisis while acknowledging the financial pressures that people were under.

I am fully aware of the daily difficulties that most people face,” he said. “I know that your salary is getting less and less, that it is difficult to make ends meet, and that your shopping basket is becoming more and more expensive.

I am going to work my skin to the bone to defend the working class of this country.

A 50 per cent discount on journeys via Renfe trains was previously introduced on June 25 in an attempt to relieve the financial burden for commuters and encourage them to use the trains, instead of their cars in the face of rocketing fuel prices.

However, the Government decided to extend the concession further until the end of the year.

The measures will be funded by a new windfall tax on banks and energy firms who have profited massively from the recent rise in interest rates and the price of fuel. The new tax is set to be introduced in 2023 and could bring in up to 7 billion euros over two years and will also help to fund 12,000 new homes and youth scholarship programmes.

The Government said that an average of between 73% and 80% of CO2 emissions will be saved on each trip with less pollution, congestion and traffic accidents also being reduced as a result of the incentive.

Germany recently introduced a similar package between June and August with commuters paying just 9 euros per month for unlimited travel.

Source

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2022/07/13/spain-short-and-medium-distance-trains-will-be-free-this-autumn-thanks-to-a-windfall-tax
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/spain-free-trains-short-renfe-b2122990.html