The Government has approved this Tuesday a royal decree law that extends public transport discounts from January 1, 2026 and creates a new single state season ticket, with an estimated total cost of 1,371 million euros, as announced by the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, after the Council of Ministers. The measure affects Cercanías and Media Distancia trains and long-distance buses, and includes specific conditions for territories such as the Balearic Islands, where land public transport remains free of charge.
The main novelty of the decree is that the autonomous communities will no longer be obliged to contribute 20% of the financing for the State to subsidize another 20% in the regional and local discounts, thus guaranteeing a minimum of 20% financed directly by the State.
A single state subscription of 60 euros
The new single season ticket will be priced at 60 euros, reduced to 30 euros for young people under 26 years of age, and will allow integrated travel on Cercanías, Media Distancia and state buses. According to Ministry data, public transport trips have already reached 420 million, which is 23% more than in 2022, before the implementation of the bonuses.
The minister defended that the subsidies have meant an average saving of 75% for users, citing the example of up to 5,000 euros per year on Avant services for recurring passengers.
The Balearic Islands maintains free public transportation
The Royal Decree maintains the specific aids for territories with singularities, among them the Balearic and Canary Islands, where the free land public transport is extended. In the case of Asturias and Cantabria, the free service of the Cercanías services will also continue.
The measures will come into force on January 1, 2026, adapted to each territory and type of service, consolidating the bonus scheme in force during the second half of 2025.
Changes in regional and local discounts
Another difference with respect to the extension approved for 2025 is that the autonomous communities and local councils will now decide whether to contribute their additional 20% of the 40% discounts for regional and local subscriptions. The State guarantees its share unconditionally, which introduces greater budgetary flexibility for the territorial administrations.
These services continue to be free for children, with 50% discounts for young people up to 26 years of age and a minimum 20% discount for the rest of the subscriptions, without taking into account possible additional contributions from other administrations.
New Avant and Cercanías fares
The Ministry of Transport has also announced the new ‘Pass Via’ for Avant trains, with progressive discounts ranging from 45% to 72% depending on the number of trips made, without the need for prior disbursement. In addition, a 10-trip voucher with a 50% discount, valid for 30 days, has been incorporated.
In Cercanías, a 40% discount will be applied as of the fifth trip through the Cronos system, which allows direct payment by bank card. On metric gauge Media Distancia services, round-trip discounts will increase from 7% to 20%, and a maximum price of 7 euros will be set for tickets purchased by people with disabilities.
Approval without General Budget
Minister Óscar Puente has stressed that all these measures have been approved without the General State Budget, defending the capacity of the Executive to continue governing and approving investments. In the month of December alone, he pointed out, the Ministry of Transport has approved investments worth 3,822 million euros.
The royal decree is being processed independently, unlike the one approved for 2025, which will facilitate its validation in Congress and prevent it from lapsing, as happened last year.
