By As part of measures to cushion the effect of raising inflation in the country, the socialist-led coalition government of prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, announced on Tuesday, that travel across certain parts of the state-owned rail-network, Renfe, would be free from 1 September to the end of the year.
This arrangement will offer free train tickets for journeys under 300 kilometers (186 miles) until the end of the year in addition to a policy announced last month in which the central government agreed a 30% discount on all public transport, including metros, buses and trams.
The 100% rail discounts will apply to multi-trip ticket journeys on cercanías (commuter services) and media distancia, or medium-distance routes (less than 300km).
The measure is mainly aimed at Spanish season ticket holders but tourists could take advantage of it if they bought multi-journey tickets.
Spain is toeing the likes of Germany which in May launched a €9-a-month ticket scheme that runs from June until the end of August.
In late 2021, Austria also launched its “Klimaticket” (climate ticket) designed to encourage people to ditch their cars. The annual pass, priced at €1,095, works out at just €21 a week or €3 a day.
