Luxembourg made buses, trains and trams free for everyone in February 2020 in a bid to reduce traffic congestion – and people have been making the most of the system ever since
Luxembourgers have been travelling for absolutely nothing, thanks to their country’s decision to scrap fares on trains and most public transport services. The tiny but affluent nation of, only a smidgen under 999 square miles, took the plunge back in February 2020, just before the Covid-19 pandemic changed the world.
Since then, locals and visitors alike simply need to show some ID to hop on the majority of buses and trains, although those looking for a touch of luxury can still opt for first class at a cost. A “short time” first-class ticket, good for a two-hour window, will set you back roughly £2.50 (€3), while for unfettered travel all day, a first-class day ticket costs about £5.15 (€6), expiring at 4am the following day.
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The Grand Duchy waved goodbye to tickets for its trains and public transportation system as a strategy to beat bumper-to-bumper traffic and bring down exhaust-related pollution. Before they said goodbye to fares, Luxembourg topped the charts for car density in the EU — leading to intense traffic jams and a surge in emissions.
In contrast to the European average of 560 cars per 1,000 people in 2020, Luxembourg clocked in a hefty 696 motors per 1,000 citizens.
There seems to be some local love for the fare-free commute, with several residents admitting that the move has nudged them towards using buses and trains over driving, reports the Express.
Accountant Edgar Bisenius previously told Euronews: “Since it’s free, it’s easier to make a decision quickly, to choose between public transport or private car. This means that it is very positive for the environment and practical.”
Teacher Ben Dratwicki put forth a strong case for the social impact of the initiative, asserting: “This is a good initiative, it favours the public sector, it strengthens the public sector. Transport is a fundamental right for residents. If you have the right to work, you also have the right to get to work without too many costs.”
Shelling out around £428million (€500m) annually, Luxembourg carries the financial load of an entire public transport network. In stark contrast, before making the switch in February 2020, ticket sales contributed a mere £35m (€41m) per year.
As stated by the Grand Duchy’s then Deputy Prime Minister, Francois Bausch, in 2020, “all taxpayers” are now picking up the tab for transport costs.
Bausch elaborated on the decision’s fairness, saying: “There’s more equity there because obviously those who pay little taxes pay nothing or very little in this system. And those who pay more taxes… have a price tag that may be a little bit higher.”
Luxembourg proudly joins the ranks of cities like Tallinn and Dunkirk in pioneering taxpayer-funded public transport, positioning itself as a trailblazer among Europe’s richest nations.
In 2013, the former made bus, tram, trolleybus, train and ferry services completely free – but only for residents. Meanwhile, in 2018, Dunkirk became the largest European urban conurbation to offer an entirely free bus network for all.