After the government announcement that they were planning to make public transport free for all, international media outlets pounced on the story and Luxembourg was heaped with praise from across the globe.
But what about Luxembourg's citizens? How do they feel about free public transport and what might be the consequences? After all, the costs will need to be redistributed in some other way. Another burning question on people's minds: When will it be made available?
While some of these questions still remain to be answered, one thing is for sure: Luxembourg's transport and mobility system desperately needs and overhaul. Every day, Luxembourg residents and cross-border commuters brave the congested streets in and around Luxembourg City to get to work. 90% of people use their own vehicle to get from A to B while only 6% currently regularly use public transport during their commute.
This ratio is rather surprising, considering that Luxembourg's public transport fees are pretty affordable in comparison to other EU countries. On average, people in Luxembourg pay €440 per annum, per capita for public transport - or around €1.2 per day. Young people under the age of 20 can already benefit from free public transport and people over the age of 60 also enjoy reduced fares. Many employers pay their employees' mPasses.
While the idea of free public transport is welcomed by most citizens, a lot of uncertainty remains - especially surrounding the question of financing.
Train service employees have expressed their worries concerning long-term job security and day-to-day functioning of the train service, but Minister for Transport François Bausch assured them that their jobs are secure.
*Free in the colloquial sense, i.e. at the point of use.
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