LUXEMBOURG CITY — The words “Tickets, please” will be a thing of the past in the country of Luxembourg where free public transportation will come into effect starting next summer.
An environmental initiative by the new coalition government taking office will abolish fares on the country’s entire public transport network, a move that’s expected to ease traffic congestion and boost tourism.
Starting summer 2019, tickets on all trains, trams and buses will be free, confirmed Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.
Luxembourg is just 999 square miles and its capital, Luxembourg City, is one of the world’s most congested cities in the world. A 2016 study by Inrix put the average time a driver spent in traffic jams at 33 hours, putting Luxembourg City in 134th place among 1,064 towns in 38 countries. Not only does the city have a high ratio of cars per household, approximately 400,000 people – including those from neighbouring France, Belgium and Germany – commute to the capital for work.
