An “unlimited ticket” to take the train: for who, when, how… everything you need to know about the “SNCF rail pass”
Le pass rail sera-t-il généralisé en France ? Midi Libre – MICHAEL ESDOURRUBAILH
The "unlimited ticket" could be the subject of an experiment this summer, the Minister of Transport announced on Monday. But the government must find an agreement with the regions.
Announced in September 2023 by the Head of State, then considered buried for a time, it finally resurfaced, Monday, on the airwaves of France Beu Nord, through the voice of the Minister of Transportation.
The rail pass could see the light of day this year, but would be tested first during the summer and reserved for young people up to 27 years old, announced Patrice Vergriete.
On March 6, during an interview on Public Senate, he said he wanted to propose this option to the president of the Association of Regions of France, Carole Delga.
The idea of the rail pass is simple: allowing travelers to travel at will on the daily train network (excluding TGV), for a low-cost package.
Find an agreement with the regions
Mais "we carried out (the) consultation with the regions which are responsible for the TER (the State has the responsibility of the other trains concerned, the Intercités, Editor's note). They wish to move forward cautiously on this issue because the cost is extremely significant. So, we wanted to do an experiment" firstly, the minister argued on Monday.
"We will also discuss the price with the regions", he underlined. With a major difficulty: the government must obtain "an agreement with all the regions" to establish a tariff national.
"In Germany, demand has exploded"
"The goal of the game is to be as concrete as possible and to help our young people", underlined the minister. Without going forward, therefore, on the amount of the subscription, while his predecessor, Clément Beaune, suggested an attractive price " 60~/em> around "49 €" per month, i.e. the price in Germany.
In France, it would rather be"in a sort of social pricing for young people to allow them to discover all the regions of our beautiful country", explained Patrice Vergriete, the March 6, during questions to the government in the Senate.
Ambition lowered
The Minister of Transport, however, affirms that ambitions have not been lowered. On the contrary, it ensures that feedback from across the Rhine is taken into account.
"When the Germans introduced the rail pass, demand exploded. But the offer wasn’t necessarily there. So we saw crowded trains, difficulties", explains Patrice Vergriete.
"Obviously, there are economic considerations to take into account. In France, there is also the possibility of being reimbursed by your employer, when you are an employee, for half of the public transport subscription, particularly the train, which does not exist in Germany. So we have to know how to adapt to our specificities and above all learn from what didn't work in Germany", insists il.
But today we are far from the German model, much broader, although originally cited as an example by the government.
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