Spain - Rail Offer

[LNW-GW Joint]

There are various reports of a Spanish government programme to discount rail travel in Spain until the end of the year.
I haven't found a trustworthy source, but local and medium distance fares will be "free", with a discount on long-distance services.
The reports all talk about "subscriptions" for multiple-journey tickets.
A 75% discount on Cercanias/Rodalies/MD fares is already available, and will rise to 100% (ie free) between September and December.
It isn't at all clear what the discount is for regular Renfe long-distance tickets.
The offer is being funded by a new tax on energy companies.

Trenes gratis de Renfe desde septiembre: una de las medidas estrella que ha anunciado Pedro Sánchez

Trenes gratis de Renfe desde septiembre: una de las medidas estrella que ha anunciado Pedro Sánchez

www.lasexta.com

Pedro Sánchez has announced that the Government will subsidize 100% of the subscriptions of several trips for Cercanías, Rodalies and medium distance trains operated by Renfe, so they will become free from September 1 of this year until December 31

 

[30907]

There are various reports of a Spanish government programme to discount rail travel in Spain until the end of the year.
I haven't found a trustworthy source, but local and medium distance fares will be "free", with a discount on long-distance services.
The reports all talk about "subscriptions" for multiple-journey tickets.
A 75% discount on Cercanias/Rodalies/MD fares is already available, and will rise to 100% (ie free) between September and December.
It isn't at all clear what the discount is for regular Renfe long-distance tickets.
The offer is being funded by a new tax on energy companies.

Trenes gratis de Renfe desde septiembre: una de las medidas estrella que ha anunciado Pedro Sánchez

Trenes gratis de Renfe desde septiembre: una de las medidas estrella que ha anunciado Pedro Sánchez

www.lasexta.com

I presume abonos means season ticket like the French equivalent.

 

[peteb]

I guess the compulsory reservation system in place for virtually all non urban Spanish rail journeys will avoid the overcrowding being experienced on some DB trains as a result of their €9 offer. However as tickets are free you could imagine lots of very quiet trains if there are a lot of no shows, and noone else can travel instead once they're booked up. Maybe RENFE needs to get shut of their compulsory reservation system?

 

[WatcherZero]

From what I gather:

Rail and bus fares have already been slashed by 50% in some cases to help with rising cost of travel/energy
New deal is from September until the end of the year the Short/medium distance brand multi-journey trips (equivalent to 10 journey weekly tickets and longer season tickets) will be free.
Offer wont apply to single/return tickets or intercity branded journeys.

So essentially means the scheme is firmly aimed at commuters not leisure/infrequent travellers.


Germany has introduced a €9 unlimited short/medium distance monthly ticket that will run until June-August.

 

[P Binnersley]

Free "multi-journey" travel on local trains in Spain from 1st September to 31st December.
Single tickets are excluded, but there doesn't seem to be anything stopping you buying a multi-journey ticket and only using it once!

Public transport prices on state-owned service across Spain have already been slashed in half in response to rapidly rising energy and inflation rates. Now the government has announced further 100% discounts.
As of September, passengers will be able to travel across various trains operated by public train network Renfe for absolutely nothing.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced that multi-journey tickets for trains operated by the network's public services Cercanías, Rodalies and Media Distance (equivalent to local and medium-distance journeys) are to be free of charge from September 1 up until the end of the year.

The measure excludes single-journey tickets, or long-distance travels, according to public broadcaster TVE. Multi-journey tickets include a minimum of 10 return trips.

Spain to make some train journeys free from September

Public transport prices on state-owned service across Spain have already been slashed in half in response to rapidly rising energy and inflation rates. Now the government has announced further 100% discounts.

edition.cnn.com

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The Independent confirms the local/MD multi-journey free offer between September 1 and year end, and says it does not apply to single or long-distance tickets.

MSN

But then it says:

The Spanish government has also lowered fares on state-owned public transport by 50 per cent.

 

[dutchflyer]

But AFAIK the only remaining ´state (national govmt) owned´ transport IS RENFE. Some regions also have their own local railnetwork (best known Basque country-EuskoTren) and the last years have seen a dedicated effort to get the state rid of other loss-making long standing institutions like the Balearic ferries. Local citybus/metro-systems are owned by the city-or more often contracted out and regional and long distance bus/coach is commercial-with every now and then here/there some support from the regions to keep the network.
Note that it is far from easy to just turn up and get a season-first thing always asked for is the NIE=Nat. Identity Nr (person nr), then a chipcard has to be made-now also on various RENFE cercanias=local systems-said to take up to 6 weeks! This effectively bans all bargain-grabbing foreigners-quite different from the German offer-or in some regions of Austria too.
But just wait to see the cry-out of all these InterRail-passholders when they find that even more trains are sold out/fully booked days/weeks ahead.

 

[Flying Snail]

But AFAIK the only remaining ´state (national govmt) owned´ transport IS RENFE. Some regions also have their own local railnetwork (best known Basque country-EuskoTren) and the last years have seen a dedicated effort to get the state rid of other loss-making long standing institutions like the Balearic ferries. Local citybus/metro-systems are owned by the city-or more often contracted out and regional and long distance bus/coach is commercial-with every now and then here/there some support from the regions to keep the network.
Note that it is far from easy to just turn up and get a season-first thing always asked for is the NIE=Nat. Identity Nr (person nr), then a chipcard has to be made-now also on various RENFE cercanias=local systems-said to take up to 6 weeks! This effectively bans all bargain-grabbing foreigners-quite different from the German offer-or in some regions of Austria too.
But just wait to see the cry-out of all these InterRail-passholders when they find that even more trains are sold out/fully booked days/weeks ahead.

And why shouldn't they "cry out" if they are being denied travel they have already paid for so locals can travel for free. And this in a country that already makes it comically difficult for Interrail customers to actually get a reservation in the first place.

 

[johnnychips]

But AFAIK the only remaining ´state (national govmt) owned´ transport IS RENFE..

But I also thought that RENFE was subcontracted by, for example, the Catalonian authority to run trains between Barcelona and Port Bou. So they look like RENFE trains but aren’t really.

I maybe talking nonsense, but I’m sure someone will clarify.

 

[Feuillesmortes]

But AFAIK the only remaining ´state (national govmt) owned´ transport IS RENFE..

Note that it is far from easy to just turn up and get a season-first thing always asked for is the NIE=Nat. Identity Nr (person nr), then a chipcard has to be made-now also on various RENFE cercanias=local systems-said to take up to 6 weeks!

Thank you for this. I'd best not start planning a free trip for the Autumn then.

 

[turbostarrob]

So I'm getting confused..

The Renfe website says you can buy the multi-journey tickets at machines or ticket offices for Madrid commuter?

Do we need the smart card in order to do this?