Luxembourg to be the first country with free public transportation!

Introducing free public transportation is Luxembourg’s idea for fighting two problems – increasing traffic and inequality. Minister for Mobility François Bausch said that Luxembourg wants to be a laboratory for new experience in mobility. The country aims to pioneer new solutions, comparing this revolutionary introduction to first steps on the Moon.

Luxembourg wants to encourage people to change their habits and use public transport rather than a car. As public transportation becomes free of charge, it’s expected that mobility needs will increase by 20% till 2025, but the country already has plans for expanding public transport – regional bus network is to be completely transformed by 2021 and will be the densest in Europe! The infrastructure and maintanance of public transportation will cost €41 million per year and will be financed by taxes.

First class train tickets and passes will remain valid: there will be no change or discount (€ 660 /year, € 75 /month or € 6 /day) so that the first-class passengers can get the level of service they expect. Every day, 200,000 workers from neighboring countries go to work in Luxembourg. Commuters from neighbouring countries will benefit from reduced fares, but public transport is free only within Luxembourg’s borders.

To celebrate this big date, everyone’s invited to an unusual concert which will take place in a unique venue that’s usually closed to the public: “Neien Tramsschapp” in Kirchberg. The artists will be performing all day at Belval-Université, Gare centrale, Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg and Ettelbrück before making their way to “Neien Tramsschapp” on public transport with everyone else!