25Sep 24
Spanish local trains are free for residents. And in Italy?
While the current Italian Government has done everything to eliminate any aid to those who cannot get by, the socialist Government of Pedro Sanchez has for over two years been trying to make the economic crisis more bearable and prevent the increase in the prices of goods of mass consumption, from 2022 it has eliminated the payment of tickets for all city and local trains. And even in 2025 they will not be paid. That’s right, all the Cercanias trains (the system of urban and extra-urban trains also connected to the metro network) are free of charge if you are a resident of a Spanish city: if I want to travel from Barcelona to a city within 100 km , just buy a 10 euro art that is worth three months and crawl through the station entrance gates before getting on the train. I can go from Madrid to Leganes, or Alcorcíon or Mostoles without paying, as many times as I want, without limits. And if I travel for more than 15 days a month, the cost of the card is refunded to me. Does something similar seem possible in Italy, the country with the worst and most expensive local transport?
Furthermore, there is also a certain one that costs 20 euros, also lasting three months, which allows you to travel for free within a distance of 300 km. How is it possible for this to happen? How did Prime Minister Sanchez manage to find the funds and convince the transport companies not to even provide the ticket? He simply succeeded, with an intelligent policy of aid and subsidies, thus giving great help to the Spaniards. And from us? Not even in a dream. I know the situation of Italian local trains: if they are not old and dilapidated, they are dirty, unsafe and perpetually late. And dear ones. All it takes is a little rain and they are late or cancelled. None of the management of the various companies has any interest in improving the service or giving information to passengers or even making sure that everyone pays for the tickets. Or guarantee a minimum of security. For some time I took TreNord, a real shame. Trani always late or cancelled, a coast smelling of burnt rubber, no security on trains and in stations, where the few workers remain closed in their niches minding their own business. And the prices are high and always increasing, and the card top-ups have a terrible, backward computer system and are non-refundable. Once again Spain beats Italy.