Luxembourg has become the first country globally to make public transport free for its citizens.
The country’s transport minister Francois Bausch has hailed the initiative as historic and a “great day” for the country.
Luxembourg is a small but wealthy nation and wants to “motivate” some 214,000 daily foreign commuters.
Prior to this latest move, residents benefited from free rides on buses, trains, and trams on Saturdays but all charges have now been scrapped for everyday.
The free public transport will now be funded through taxes paid into the national budget.
Transport minister Francois Bausch said this move will mean travel savings for private households, especially “low earners.”
He added that “The scheme applies to residents, cross-border commuters and tourists alike.”
Luxembourg’s public transport consortium said in reaction that people “will no longer need a ticket to board any national bus, train or the tram.”
It said “commuters from neighboring countries will benefit from reduced fares!”
But the consortium warned that “Free public transport ends at the border, so you must get a cross-border pass or ticket if you plan to travel outside of the territory of the Grand Duchy.”
Luxembourg’s population is around 614,000 with people having comparatively high wages.
But the country is facing strong growth in population with almost half being foreigners. Resident Portuguese citizens make up 18%, and French at 13%.
Source: Africafeeds.com
