A promise (finally) being implemented? While the project was almost buried that same morning, the government and the regions finally reached an agreement on April 3 on a “rail pass”, announced Patrice Vergriete, Minister responsible for Transport. But this will be much more restrictive than what was initially announced. It will be aimed at 700,000 young people under the age of 27, who will be able to travel unlimited aboard regional trains (TER and Intercités) as part of a package of €49 per month, next July and August. The TGV Inoui, Ouigo, Ouigo Classic Train and Eurostar will not be included. An experiment which should be a first step towards an expansion of the system in Île-de-France, with the Transiliens, from 2025, according to the Minister of Transport.
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The initiative is far from being new in a Europe now driven by important sustainable mobility issues. The French rail pass is also directly inspired by the unlimited train offer created in Germany, available since May 1, 2023. Called the Deutschland-Ticket, this rail pass of €49 per month has met with great success in its launch. He wants to be much more advantageous than his future French sidekick. No time limit or age category limit. It offers unlimited access to regional trains and public urban transport, including the metro (U-Bahn) and commuter trains (S-Bahn). Only high-speed trains (ICE) are excluded from the system. And everyone can benefit from it, including foreigners.
“Climate ticket” in Austria
On the Austrian side, the launch of a “climate ticket” (Klimaticket) at the end of 2021 was an event in itself. It costs €1,095 per year (which represents €91.25 per month, but it is indeed an annual pass) and allows you to travel at will on all public trains and buses in the country. Travelers aged 25 and under, and 65 and over, as well as people with disabilities, pay €821 (approx. €68 per month). The ticket is valid for an entire year, from the date chosen by the buyer, and is aimed at those who would like to travel to the country of Mozart.
Further south, Portugal introduced a “national rail pass” in August 2023. The latter allows travel on all regional trains in the country, without time restrictions. Originally, several regional lines, as well as intercity and interregional trains, were excluded from the system. Last November, MPs voted for interregional trains to be included by the end of the first half of 2024. The €49 subscription can be activated with the purchase of a CP card worth €6 €, specify the Portuguese Railways (Comboios de Portugal).
In Italy, the national company Trenitalia has just renewed its “Italia In Tour 3” and “Italia In Tour 5” offers. These two “rail passes” allow you to take unlimited regional trains for 3 or 5 consecutive days. The price: €29 for 3 days, €49 for 5 days. With this package you can travel throughout Italy, except in the territory of Cinque Terre and Lombardy. It also does not apply to the trains of the Trenord company, present in the north of the country.