State backing to encourage people to return to public-transport use since the end of the pandemic has significantly increased travel.

The trouble was that the subsidies (which came into effect in September 2022) were set to expire on December 31st, 2025. For this reason, PM Sánchez has clarified that transport subsidies will be extended throughout 2026.

Furthermore, the government will go a step further with the launch of the first, single, transport pass for the entire country, starting in the second half of January. These two moves will be introduced with a Royal Decree Law at a Board-of-Minister meeting at the end of the year.

This pass will allow people to travel on all commuter, regional, and state-run bus services for a flat rate of €60 per month for adults and €30 for those under 26.

This measure is calculated to benefit two million users, according to government estimates. PM Sánchez gave the example, at a press meeting, of a worker who commutes daily by train from Vigo to Santiago or from Jerez to Sevilla, who will be able to save “up to 60% of their monthly public-transport expenses.”

The PM also urged regional and local governments to “gradually adopt” the measure so that all public transport networks, both regional and local—such as metro and buses—are included in the pass.

At the moment, each autonomous region has different fares and payment systems, which hinders travel between regions; something this single pass aims to alleviate.

The problem is that regions run by opposition parties to the Central Government will no doubt drag their feet in cooperating – if readers have been following the news, they will have seen that the Central Government under the socialists is coming under increasing pressure to call early elections.

This kind of public-transport subsidy already exists in Germany and Austria, according to the PM, where there is also a drive to increase public-transport use instead of depending on private vehicles, especially in cities.

Finally, the pass will be introduced in phases: the first phase will only include state-run, public transport services, meaning commuter trains, regional trains, and state-run buses. High-speed AVE and Avlo trains will be excluded for the time being.

In a second phase, the aim (with the cooperation of regional authorities) is to include public transport subsidies, such as those for the metro and town buses, in this single pass.

(News: Spain)

Keywords: Public Transport, Government Subsidies, Germany, Austria, Single Transport Pass, Trains, State-Run Bus Services

news, spain, public transport, government subsidies, germany, austria, single transport pass, trains, state-run bus services

Reader’s comment: “A very pro-environment move which deserves success” – Fred Davies