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Luxembourg to introduce free public transport

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MarcVD

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Thinking about it i don't think there is any Deutsche Bahn stock that enters Luxembourg any more? Isn't it 100% Stadler Kiss EMUs run by CFL (Luxembourg State Railways) that cross the border these days?

Passenger wise you're right but you still can see the odd freight train with DB or german private traction. Almost never in Luxembourg City unfortunately, unless the City avoiding line is out of operation.

By the way those CFL EMUs not only cross the border, but also get coupled to a german EMU in Trier for the end part of the trip. MUs between equipment of different countries must not happen in that many places either...
 
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Passenger wise you're right but you still can see the odd freight train with DB or german private traction. Almost never in Luxembourg City unfortunately, unless the City avoiding line is out of operation.

By the way those CFL EMUs not only cross the border, but also get coupled to a german EMU in Trier for the end part of the trip. MUs between equipment of different countries must not happen in that many places either...
Belgian Type 13s and CFL 3000s can be seen in multi on freight trains.
 

MarcVD

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Belgian Type 13s and CFL 3000s can be seen in multi on freight trains.

Yes, like we also had MUs with SNCB séries 55 and CFL séries 18 diesel locos. Was nice to see them escalading hills on the Athus Meuse line before it was electrified.
 

dutchflyer

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The question was does that include trains operated within Lux by other companies, e.g. DB or SNCB, or only those by CFL?
You Brits still do not grasp the idea of the national EUR-railways: it does not matter whats written on the side of the cars, its the geography that counts: Inside the LUX borders all trains are considered to be run as CFL. And CFL-trains runing outside of LUX are thought of as being SNCF or DB or whatever.
 

Bletchleyite

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You Brits still do not grasp the idea of the national EUR-railways: it does not matter whats written on the side of the cars, its the geography that counts: Inside the LUX borders all trains are considered to be run as CFL. And CFL-trains runing outside of LUX are thought of as being SNCF or DB or whatever.

That is not universally true now, though it used to be (even to the extent of swapping locomotives and crews at the border). For instance, the remaining Sleepers within Germany are OeBB-operated on an open access basis; they are not DB trains in any form.
 

Adlington

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BBC has published a long(ish) analysis of the introduction of free public transport in Luxembourg. It's not overenthusiastic....
More than 60% of commuters use their cars to get to work, compared to just 19% who use public transport.

Yet cutting congestion and improving the environment are not the main drivers of the free public transport initiative, according to minister for mobility and public works François Bausch. "It is primarily a social measure," he says. "The objective is to stop the deepening gap between rich and poor. For people on low wages, transport expenses matter. Therefore it is easier to make it free for everyone."

But persuading car drivers to jump on board free trains and buses may be a difficult proposition, given many see the public transport system as clunky and inconvenient.

Fatima Braga cleans homes during the day and offices in the evening for the minimum wage. During breaks between jobs, she goes home to take care of her dog.

“Free transport would help me save a lot of money in car expenses,” she says. “However, as I travel back and forth from home to different places, I would spend at least 1.5 hours every day on the bus against 50 minutes by car.”

For those in a higher income bracket, switching seems even more unlikely. Anne Klein teaches German at a high school in Lamadeleine, 30km south of her home in Luxembourg City. In the morning, her commute takes 30 minutes as she drives away from rush-hour traffic.

If she returns to the school in the late afternoon, as rush-hour gets going, she doubles her travel time – yet she’s not tempted to change.

“It takes me one hour to go to work by train. And I need to change to another train, which brings me to school either too early or too late,” she explains. Plus, she has to carry heavy bags of books. “Even if it’s more expensive, car remains the most convenient transport alternative for me,” she says.

Constance Carr, a senior postdoctoral researcher at the University of Luxembourg, voices similar views, saying: “Free public transport is a complex issue and fees are not the problem.” She highlights high-priced housing as the key social issue, saying rising costs are driving people out of the city to border areas. Making more land available for housing would be one potential solution, she says, but whether land owners would support that “is a big question”.

National transport unions are opposing the plan. “Making transport free might lead to an increase in vandalism,” said Mylène Bianchy, president of railway union Syprolux. “People appreciate it less and vandalism increases.” Unions also fear the scheme will lead to staff dismissals. But [minister for mobility and public works François] Bausch says nobody will be laid off. “Ticket inspectors and desk staff will remain on board and in the stations, and will be redirected to information and security tasks.”
The article also comments on free transport experiments in Tallinn (Estonia) and Dunkirk (France).
 
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They have recently announced that the free public transport will not start until 01/03/2020 which is a bit later than planned. The reason for the later start is because of the issues involved with working out refunds for people with season tickets as many people hold annual season tickets. So they thought it would be simpler to wait until all current tickets expire. Gradually they will stop selling annual tickets then monthly tickets then weekly tickets as we get closer to the start date of 01/03/2020 next year.

Very surprisingly they have announced that first class will be kept on trains. Even more surprising is that the first class fares will remain exactly the same as now. I really can't see many people actually using first class when you can travel in standard class (which is also very comfortable) for free. I wouldn't be surprised if they get rid of first class after the first few months (or maybe even less) of free travel being introduced. I imagine that first class will be empty all the time.

We still don't know what the rules for cross border trains and buses will be. At the moment there are some cross border journeys on trains and buses where you can use the normal domestic tickets. So it is unknown as to whether these journeys will be free or not.
 

sheff1

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Having had cause to be in Luxembourg last week, I found the answers to a couple of the queries above:

* Free travel will be for all - residents and non-residents;
* All train journeys within the country will be free (in standard) including trains operated by foreign companies (e.g.SNCF/SNCB).

Additionaly, I found that most buses are already free within Luxembourg City on Saturdays, and some Sundays.
There are also free buses from Luxembourg to some outlying towns in the early hours of Saturday & Sunday.
Anyone under 20 can currently travel nationwide for free at all times.
Anyone holding a ticket to an event at Rockhal Belval (the largest concert hall in the country) also qualifies for free travel nationwide all day and until 0400 the next morning.
 

radamfi

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Very surprisingly they have announced that first class will be kept on trains. Even more surprising is that the first class fares will remain exactly the same as now. I really can't see many people actually using first class when you can travel in standard class (which is also very comfortable) for free.

Having travelled on a crowded peak time train in Luxembourg, I can see the attraction of 1st class, especially given that you get unlimited 1st class travel for a mere 6.00 a day.
 

Howardh

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This is actually going to happen - and if (a) it gets cars off the road and (b) the country can afford it then it can only be a good thing?
 

hexagon789

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This is actually going to happen - and if (a) it gets cars off the road and (b) the country can afford it then it can only be a good thing?

It's costing €41m to implement in lost ticket revenue, but as this was heavily subsidised it's not all that much compared to the annual running costs of €500m that the government pays anyway.
 

dutchflyer

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Estonia were supposed to be bringing in free public transport, but it hadnt happened when I visited in September
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entr...inn-paris-germany_us_5b0e7519e4b0802d69cfecaf
Its for BUS only for now and only for the people of some provinces that decided to take part (as they have to pay for a higher bill to run the buses) and, just like in Tallinn, only for those holding the required chipcard with the eternal free season on it. I understand one has to go to local council to get it confirmed as local inhabitant for that.
BTW-just read that fares in Tln for out-of-towners are to be raised soon now to 2 eur (2 hrs) or I think 5 eur (dayticket), but without the need to first buy a chipcard (type of Oyster). So thats LUxemborg pricing-till yesterday, but for a smaller area.
However-several LUX buslines running a short distance into FE/BE/FR charged also local fares, but now for these INternational trips the higher 3 eur fare is charged (that used to be and remains for trips going further over the border). F.e. for the Ettelbruck-Wiltz-Bastogne line.
Trains to Athus/BE and one FR place just over border (as a dead end) will also be free.
 

U-Bahnfreund

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There's this video by Tom Scott and this German-language analysis on the Zukunft Mobilität blog arguing, that while offering free public transport in general is at least an explorable concept, Luxembourg's public transport infrastructure is quite inadequate to handle much more passengers. Additionally, free public transport in many cases only attracts pedestrians or bicyclists to use it, rather than car drivers. So it is to be seen if there really will be a bigger shift in Luxembourg travel patterns away from the car.
 

Butts

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I am going to Luxembourg next week to purchase the only other (after public transport becomes free) cheap thing in the Grand Duchy - namely Cigarettes.

As people have commented upthread it was only 4 Euros for a nationwide day pass on trains and bus services.

Far better if they could bring down the price of a meal, alcohol or even a coffee !!!
 

Howardh

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I am going to Luxembourg next week to purchase the only other (after public transport becomes free) cheap thing in the Grand Duchy - namely Cigarettes.

As people have commented upthread it was only 4 Euros for a nationwide day pass on trains and bus services.

Far better if they could bring down the price of a meal, alcohol or even a coffee !!!
Petrol and diesel. They're cheap...by comparison to everywhere else!
 

Butts

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I have today experienced a massive Four Euro saving with the new free travel scheme in The Grand Duchy. Pottered about on a few services killing time before my Flight back to Edinburgh. No noticeable increase in patronage compared to previous visits.

Noticed quite a few of the ticket offices in the sticks seem to have shut from Jan 1st this year !!

Went up to Troisvierges near the Belgian Border. Actually got a reasonable Coffee from the Vending Machine in the Station for 70 cents - cheapest paid brew for me ever in the GD !!
 
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Howardh

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I have today experienced a massive Four Euro saving with the new free travel scheme in The Grand Duchy. Pottered about on a few services killing time before my Flight back to Edinburgh. No noticeable increase in patronage compared to previous visits.

Noticed quite a few of the ticket offices in the sticks seem to have shut from Jan 1st this year !!

Went up to Troisvierges near the Belgian Border. Actually got a reasonable Coffee from the Vending Machine in the Station for 70 cents - cheapest paid brew for me ever in the GD !!
Just to clarify, trains within the country free?
 

Butts

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Yes, but not cross-border. CFL's website has good info, in English.

From what I could garner you can go on a normal service for free that is crossing the border as long as you get off at the last stop in Luxembourg.
The exception I think is TGV Trains. 1st Class is 6 Euros for anywhere on the same basis.
 

busdave

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I'm quite a fan of the idea of free public transport.
Recently I spent a couple of days in Luxembourg, where I travelled on buses, trams, a train & a funicular, all free.
It's brilliant, particularly for foreign tourists, because you don't have the hassle of buying tickets, which can be tricky in a foreign country.
I also spent a couple of days in Dunkerque, which is the first French city to have free bus travel; again, easy: just jump on & off as you want.
Obviously, it costs a lot of money, but quite a bit must be saved by not having to have all the paraphernalia related to selling many types of tickets,
never mind the time saved at bus stops.
It's also a social leveller, most of the people using buses, at least, tending to be at the poorer end of tthe social scale.
 

duesselmartin

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The cost of a ticket was previously extremely low in Luxembourg. Having free transport might release resources elsewhere meaning the extra costs might not be that big.
Luxembourg as a wealthy nation has better options than Greece, to take the other extreme.
 

snookertam

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While Luxembourg being a small and relatively unique country, this scheme may be more complex to introduce nationwide elsewhere. It could be a good template for localised schemes.

The Glasgow conurbation has about twice the population of Luxembourg, but would be interesting to see if the scheme could be replicated within the city region due to the relative self containment of many of the public transport routes. City buses that predominently operate within the city council boundary, and rail services within the city could be chosen as a free tavel area. Scotland is already intending to bring in free bus travel for under 19s nationwide. So the concept is growing, albiet limited to certain groups for now.
 

Meerkat

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Won’t free buses lead to scratter kids sitting on them for hours being annoying? Warmer than a bus stop and free wifi.
 

dutchflyer

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Children went for free anyway there since many yrs and this was not a general prob there. For GLasgow I only read that pensioners riding for free in the UK sat whole day on the circular bus to save on expensive coal for heating @ home. in Lux this wont be a prob.
As just before corona also hit there (the neighbour FR area was most badly hit) the reports showed that people from DE/FR used now their cars to just Inside LUx and use bus/train from there-even if they before used to still to be paid for slightly longer INternational ditto lines.
 

riceuten

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Hasn't happened
Won’t free buses lead to scratter kids sitting on them for hours being annoying? Warmer than a bus stop and free wifi.

Hasn't happened in London, really. And the Wifi on CFL isn't that good. I'd say it was better they were on the train than hanging around the Gare Centrale, to be honest.

So far as I am aware, Estonian public transport is only free if you're an Estonian resident. You get issued with a smart card.
 

Enthusiast

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Hasn't happened in London,
Depends where you are and when.

If you take a ride in the suburbs in the evening (particularly in the winter) you will find that buses are well frequented by groups of young people "taking advantage of the many cultural and educational opportunities available to young people in the Capital." (They are not my words but those of the Mayor, one K. Livingstone, when he introduced universal free bus travel for U-16s in London in 2005). They can usually be found availing themselves of these opportunities on the top deck at the back, smoking and playing music. Occasionally they will broaden their horizons further by stopping off at B&Q to buy a packet of screws or bolts and hone their skills by throwing them out of the windows at passers by. Before the introduction of Mr Livingstone's policy I often chose to take the bus when I probably could have walked to avoid encountering such groups in the street. Now I often walk when I could really do with taking the bus to avoid encountering such groups on the bus.
 

Ian99

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Depends where you are and when.

If you take a ride in the suburbs in the evening (particularly in the winter) you will find that buses are well frequented by groups of young people "taking advantage of the many cultural and educational opportunities available to young people in the Capital." (They are not my words but those of the Mayor, one K. Livingstone, when he introduced universal free bus travel for U-16s in London in 2005). They can usually be found availing themselves of these opportunities on the top deck at the back, smoking and playing music. Occasionally they will broaden their horizons further by stopping off at B&Q to buy a packet of screws or bolts and hone their skills by throwing them out of the windows at passers by. Before the introduction of Mr Livingstone's policy I often chose to take the bus when I probably could have walked to avoid encountering such groups in the street. Now I often walk when I could really do with taking the bus to avoid encountering such groups on the bus.

I've never seen that type of behaviour when I've been on buses in and around Brixton, Sydenham, Catford, Lewisham etc. in the winter evenings when I've travelled.
 
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