Authorities in France have announced discounted summer train fares in order to help holidaymakers as well as locals to save money.
The decision has been confirmed by France’s Minister of Transport Clément Beaune.
According to a Euronews report, earlier this month, a total of 200,000 French train tickets were sold at the fixed price of €19. The same notes that until August 27, a large number of regional express train services in the coastal region of Hauts-de-France are €1.
Local media reports have stressed that a set number of seats will be eligible at a price of €1, urging people to buy tickets earlier. The tickets are available at ticket counters in Hauts-de-France train stations as well as through SNCF’s official website.
In order to switch to more sustainable means of transport, such as trains, authorities in France are continuously attempting to find attractive ways to promote train travel.
In June this year, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Elysee Treaty, France and Germany gave away a total of 60,000 “friendship passes” to residents from their states aged between 18 and 27.
The decision was announced by the Minister of Transport of France, Clement Beaune, and Germany, Volker Wissing, who stressed that the project aims to enhance further Franco-German cooperation in addition to promoting environmentally friendly travel among young adults.
“With the Franco-German friendship pass, young adults aged 18 to 27 can travel to the respective neighboring country, get to know them and thus strengthen the relationship between Germany and France,” the government website on the promotion noted.
Authorities in Germany started the distribution of free passes on June 12, and they announced that they would continue to do so as long as supplies last.
A similar decision was also introduced by Spain. Earlier this month, the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sanchez, announced that short and medium-distance train travel in this country would be free for four months, from September until December 31 this year.
“This measure extends the one of last June 25, which already established a 50 per cent reduction for this type of passes, due to the rapid evolution of the geopolitical situation and the need to ensure the maximum daily mobility of citizens,” the statement reads.
The Spanish government announced that this measure encourages the maximum use of this type of transport to guarantee the mandatory daily movement with means of transport that are reliable, safe, economical, and comfortable, among others.
