Railway Passage for the Youth Nearly Ends
Updated Scenario:
The "Rail Pass Freedom," a year-old offer that let young adults enjoy unlimited train travel on regional TER lines for 49 euros a month, has been pulled by the French government. The scheme, backed by the state to the tune of 80%, didn't generate the anticipated excitement and saw fewer passes sold than anticipated.
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Farewell to Rail Pass Freedom! Just one year into its launch, the government has chosen to discontinue this offer and it will not be revived for the summer of 2025, confirms Les Échos. Initiated last year, the Rail Pass Freedom allowed young folks aged 16 to 27 to explore various parts of France via trains during the summer months of July and August 2024 for a monthly subscription of 49 euros. Despite the flexibility it offered, trips on TGV - Inoui or Ouigo trains were not part of the offer.
The Rail Pass Freedom was modeled after the German "Deutschlandticket," but has failed to incite the same enthusiasm in the French community. The Ministry of Transport has remained tight-lipped about the specific reasons for the non-renewal, but it's worth mentioning that the number of passes sold, approximately 235,376, according to government figures released at the start of September, is far from the initial expectations. In fact, when it was introduced in June 2024, the government aimed to sell nearly 700,000 subscriptions. The results are disappointing, to say the least. According to the Ministry, "The final outcome is a mixed bag, with only a third of the expected tickets sold." And they added, "The current fiscal climate doesn't permit the continuation of an experiment of this sort that doesn’t meet its target."
A 15 million euro experiment
Considered an experiment, the government had to shell out funds to sustain the Rail Pass Freedom. Funded to the tune of 20% by the regions, governing bodies for TER, the state subsidized 80% of the 15 million euros allocated for this new measure. While Emmanuel Macron had advocated for the introduction of this new ticket in 2023, in response to inflation and climate change concerns, the former Minister of Transport, Clement Beaune, had made this measure his flagship project. However, the new Minister of Transport, Patrice Vergriete, had shown hesitance towards this offer for young people and had expressed his intention to reduce it.
Without renewal from the executive, the Ministry of Transport has called for other more long-term transformations to be implemented for the development of the offer and the enhancement of the quality of service. "Moreover, the regions have the freedom to propose - and many already do - a specific tariff for young people and encourage the use of TER", it specified.
For young travelers looking for alternatives, there are several options available, including the DiscoverEU Pass that offers free rail passes for 18-year-olds valid for up to 30 days of travel across Europe, the European Youth Card (EYCA) that provides discounts on transport, cultural activities, and accommodation, and opportunities for fare reductions on international routes connecting to TER lines, subject to regulatory changes.
- The French government has decided not to revive the Rail Pass Freedom in the summer of 2025, following its disappointing performance and falling significantly short of the anticipated sales.
- The transportation industry is anticipating transformations in public-transit initiatives, with the Ministry of Transport calling for long-term changes to improve the offer and enhance the quality of service.
- The finance sector will need to allow for these transformations, as they could potentially have a significant impact on the industry, particularly in relation to the development of public-transit offers.
- In light of the Rail Pass Freedom's closure, young travelers might consider alternatives such as the DiscoverEU Pass, which offers free 30-day rail passes for travel across Europe, or the European Youth Card (EYCA), which provides discounts on transportation, cultural activities, and accommodation.
- Despite the Rail Pass Freedom's failure to incite the same enthusiasm in the French community as the German "Deutschlandticket," the public-transit transportation landscape is evolving and may yet offer opportunities for young folks in the year 2025 and beyond.
