The single transport pass, priced at 60 euros per month -30euros for young people-,will come into force on January 19 and will allow unlimited travel on all Renfe’s Cercanías and Media Distancia trains, as well as on long-distance buses. This has been confirmed by the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, in an intervention on TVE.
The minister has specified that this new pass will not replace the tickets and vouchers currently in force, but will be “one more product” within the existing offer. Thus, it will continue to be possible to purchase, for example, the monthly pass of 20 euros valid for all suburban train services in the country.
Future expansion to subways and urban transportation
Puente explained that the Government’s intention is that the single season ticket will progressively incorporate other means of transport, such as metros, streetcars and urban buses, although this will require the collaboration of autonomous communities and city councils, which are the competent administrations in this field.
In this sense, he pointed out that the royal decree that will regulate the payment will include a formula so that agreements can be signed with the administrations interested in joining the initiative, establishing the conditions for the incorporation of each territory.
Technical and political difficulties
The minister regretted that the season ticket could not be launched with all the integrated transport systems and attributed this circumstance to both technical reasons and political factors. “It is not exactly the best possible scenario when you have to work constantly with administrations of the Popular Party to find ways of agreement,” he said.
However, Puente expressed his conviction that, as the subscription becomes operational, more communities and municipalities will join, following the example of other European countries.
A model inspired by Germany
The measure is inspired by the German Deutschlandticket, a similar pass that allows the use of virtually all public transport in the country for 63 euros per month, including metros and streetcars, with the sole exception of high-speed services.
Extension of current discounts
In addition to the new season ticket, the Government has confirmed that the current discounts on public transport will be extended. Thus, urban and interurban monthly passes and 10-trip passes will continue to have a 40% discount, financed in equal parts by the State and the autonomous communities or city councils.
Pending validation in Congress
The royal decree that includes this measure will be approved next Tuesday in the Council of Ministers, although it must subsequently be validated in the Congress of Deputies, where it will need the backing of a parliamentary majority to enter into force definitively.
