
A month after the approval of the extension of public transport subsidies in the last Council of Ministers of last year on December 23, 2024, yesterday it was known that the discounted prices will not be enjoyed this 2025. This is one of the measures that the Plenary of the Congress had planned to have validated or repealed on Wednesday and finally the lack of support tipped the balance for this second option.
These transport aids had been in force since 2022, after being implemented as a response to the crisis arising from the war in Ukraine. The last extension was approved, as we say, at the end of 2024 for a period of 6 months: that is, the discounts would continue until June 30, 2025.
In addition, as of July 1, a new bonus scheme to encourage the use of collective public transport was scheduled to come into force. This included, for example, the creation of a single monthly voucher of 20€ “for all areas of each Cercanías core and interoperable between the different cores into which the national network is divided”, as explained from Moncloa.
This measure was included in the so-called “omnibus” decree, which also considered other measures, such as the increase in pensions.
So, which discounts fall when the decree is overturned?
The repeal of the measure means the fall of the subsidies approved since 2022 in state-owned transport that had them. Among those bonuses are:
- A 30% discount on multi-journey passes.
- A 50% discount on urban, metropolitan and interurban transport.
- Free medium-distance trains.
As El País has learned from sources at the Ministry of Transport, those who have purchased their transport pass in the last few days with a discount of up to 100% and valid for this four-month period will be able to “continue using train and bus services without making any additional payment”. However, those who wish to purchase a new transport pass will not be able to do so after January 23rd.
With this repeal, according to the same media,“the Government’s aids to regional transport, which have been complemented until now by the regional governments,will also cease to exist “. In the case of the Community of Madrid, both the Government and the regional Government contributed 30%, so that the men and women of Madrid enjoyed a 60% discount.
The Regional Transport Consortium of Madrid (CRTM), consulted by Madrid Secreto, has already explained what will happen with the fares after this news: we tell you in detail in this article. And in this other one you will find the information related to the prices of Cercanías in Madrid.
In the case of Cercanías, it is important to point out that these fares could be modified in case the Council of Ministers on January 28th approves a new decree law that reactivates the subsidies.