Portugal has introduced a new €20 monthly train pass known as the Green Rail Pass that allows passengers to travel on nearly all urban, regional, inter-regional, and inter-city services operated by state-owned rail company Comboios de Portugal (CP). While the pass does not include premium high-speed trains or other forms of public transport like metros, it is significantly cheaper than similar schemes in other European countries. The pass has been met with some criticism from the CP Workers’ Commission, who fear it will be a financial disaster for the rail company. Despite this, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro sees the pass as an investment in people, the environment, and the future, as part of the country’s wider green mobility plan.
The pass is expected to be available before the end of the year, following negotiations with CP to ensure a safe implementation that guarantees service quality. Other European countries like Germany, France, Austria, and Hungary also offer unlimited rail passes with varying features and prices. Germany introduced the Deutschlandticket for €49 last year, France offers the France Pass for young residents, Austria has the Klimaticket for all public transport, and Hungary provides national and county travel cards for bus and train services. These passes aim to increase public transportation usage and make sustainable travel more accessible to residents.
Source
Photo credit www.euronews.com