Spain launches free, discounted public transportation
September 1, 2022, 5:00 pm

Spain launches free, discounted public transportation

Spain: Free train travel from September till December - Photo. Pixabay

The price of taking trains, metros, and buses in Spain was dramatically reduced on Thursday (September 1) as part of a government package to counteract inflation and encourage the use of public transport, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Frequent travelers can now travel for free on short and medium-distance trains operated by the public company Renfe, which is also slashing the cost of some high-speed routes by 50%.

Most cities and regional governments across the country are also applying at least a 30% discount on public transport, with the details varying in each city.

In Madrid, for instance, the price of monthly public transportation passes is being cut in half. In Barcelona, all public transportation, including single passes, will be sold at a 50% discount.

Government calculations suggest that the discounted train travel alone would save a family living on the outskirts of major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia between €150 ($151) and €250 per month.

Madrid, the capital city of Spain (Photo: Pixabay)

“This measure helps people save money, it helps Spain become more energy independent by not consuming more energy than needed, and it helps fight climate change,” said Spanish government spokesperson Isabel Rodriguez on Wednesday.

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Germany just ended a similar three-month program that offered unlimited travel on regional public transport networks for just €9 per month.

The highly popular program saw some significant success.

Not only did it reduce headline inflation by around two percentage points, according to estimates by the German Economic Institute in Cologne, but it also significantly reduced pollution and the use of fossil fuels.

Source: aa

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”