Spain introduces free commuter trains and some regional lines
Trains at Madrid station on August 8, 2022 (illustrative image).
AP - Paul White
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
From September 1 and until December 31, the Spanish authorities are making transport free on suburban trains and on certain regional lines.
The Minister of Transport, Raquel Sanchez, speaks of it as a great measure for energy savings, the idea being to encourage people to use the train, instead of cars.
In Madrid, the largest railway system in the country, the initiative pleases, but generates doubts
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With our correspondent in Madrid,
François Musseau
Economically, the measure is obviously advantageous and
thousands of people were trying these days to get the coupon
in the Atocha station, with more or less luck.
This same coupon that allows free travel by rail.
Alejandro, lives in Mostoles, in the southern suburbs and every day he comes to Madrid to work in a restaurant.
He sees in this measure both positive and negative.
“
Anything that saves money is welcome.
But we must not forget that free transport will be financed by us citizens.
Because we will have to pay for all this
, ”he believes.
It would be, according to Alejandro, a false gift therefore, since this gratuity comes from the taxes of the Spaniards.
But this is not the only downside shown by the people of Madrid.
Laura, a nurse in a hospital, also uses the commuter train every day.
She thinks of the investments that this will require.
For the rest, she sees it as a timely measure.
“
It is generally a good measure which encourages the use of public transport, in a city like Madrid which has a high level of air contamination, and which has a problem of traffic and saturation of cars
”, estimates-t-t -she.
It remains to be seen, in the weeks and months to come, the effectiveness of an initiative that claims to mitigate the effects of what is already predicted to be a very harsh autumn and winter, both energetically and socially.
►Also read: Public transport: Germany takes a first look at the monthly ticket at 9 euros
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