The public transport bonuses The government’s plan to mitigate the effects of the war in Ukraine on prices is now in its final months. The plan, which has been extended several times – most recently until 31 December this year – is being considered by the Ministry of Transport. eliminate its use in a general way starting next year.
Last Friday, representatives of the National Federation of High Speed Repeat Passenger Associations of Spain They held a meeting with the Secretary General of Sustainable Mobility of the Ministry of Transport, Álvaro Fernández Heredia; and with the head of the Technical Cabinet of the same department, Pablo Pérez de Villarto take an interest in the future of these aids.
At the meeting, the organization requested the maintenance of these bonuses and regretted its foreseeable endthe association explained in a statement.
In response to the concern expressed by the organization regarding the possible end of these bonuses, and according to the national federation, the Ministry of Transport stated that it remains committed to maintaining the current economic investment in public transport, assuming that it has to be socially affordable and under a more efficient and flexible management framework.
To this end, Transport has assured the association that it is Working together with Renfe to develop “a new fare management model”Currently, the discounts are 100% on Cercanías and Media Distancia passes and 50% on Avant passes.
Billionaire game
Aid to public transport is a significant strain on public coffers. In the budget plan that the Government submitted to the European Commission in October 2023, included a budget of 1.44 billion euros for the subsidization of public transport, including free trains and buses and aid to the autonomous communities for discounts on transport under regional jurisdiction.
The expenditure for commuter and medium-distance services is 600 million euros. Meanwhile, direct aid to autonomous communities and local authorities to reduce the price of tickets for regional or local transport (30% paid by the State and at least 20% by these entities) accounts for another 760 million euros.
Subsidies for long-distance state buses also included a budget of 80 million euros.