Credit: MMTP
Luxembourg will be implementing a free public transport system from the first half of 2020.
Luxembourg Minister for Mobility and Public Works, François Bausch, today presented the government's provisions for the introduction of free public transport as of March 2020.
The move aims to encourage road users to use public transport as an alternative to private transportation. To further promote these changed habits, there have been planned rail investments amounting to €2,212,000,000 between 2018 and 2023. These should improve the supply, punctuality and quality of public transport services. In addition, the CFL railway company has just concluded the largest contract for the purchase of rolling stock in rail history, amounting to €400 million, which will be delivered during the period 2020-2023. Tram investments during this same period wil amount to €390,000,000.
For its part, the national RGTR bus network is undergoing a complete reform. The objectives of the reorganisation of the RGTR network are the prioritisation and optimisation of regional bus routes, the improvement of services on Sundays and holidays and the improvement of evening frequencies. In addition, the department is pursuing a "no-emission" objective until 2030 with the introduction of electric buses on the RGTR network.
Minister Bausch has specified that the transition period will be used to implement a whole package of measures essential to the smooth running of the project in the interest of all stakeholders. These include the introduction of free national public transport on 1 March 2020, financed by the State (potential annual subscribers are thus informed reasonably in advance); the reduction of fares on cross-border transport after consultation with the neighbouring SNCB, DB and SNCF networks (RGTR "RegioZone" rates will also be reduced); allowing time for the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works to review, adapt and clarify the legal requirements relating to order and security (fines and conditions) on public transport; the adaption and extension of the missions of train support and supervisory staff in order to promote quality and safety; the maintenance of the first (paid) and second class system in trains along with ticket machines on station platforms.
According to Bausch: "The introduction of free public transport is [...] the social cherry on the cake of a global strategy for a multimodal offensive."
