While spring is giving way to summer, most people have already booked the holidays. But it is not always already organized how to get to the place. For this reason, two European nations found a solution: it is not important where you want to go, if you stay in the country, you can travel as much as you want at a fixed price for the whole summer. How many people would like to have this offer also in Italy?
The challenge of TRAINS (almost) NO COST: where you travel by train across the country at a FIXED PRICE
# Denmark: Pay one ticket and travel unlimited for 8 days
In Denmark this summer you can buy a travelcard that allows you to travel unlimited for a period of 8 days. Citizens can buy the pass between June 1 and July 31 and use it between June 25 and August 7. The subscription will not be exactly free of charge, in reality it will cost 399 crowns (about 54 euros), but considering the prices of some tickets such as the one to go from Aarhus to Copenhagen, with the price of a trip you can move unlimited for 8 days.
# In Germany 9 euros for 90 days
In Germany, on the other side, the Government has decided to sell a monthly travelcard for all public transport and regional trains at a price of 9 euros. The ticket will be available from June 1 and the ticket will be usable for the 3 summer months, this means that throughout the summer you can travel in Germany at a total cost of 27 euros, in principle as it were a round trip.
Tickets can be purchased online or at the counters of Deutsche Bahn, the German railway company based in Berlin, and the travelcard, which is called “9 für 90” (9 by 90), will be valid in all German cities.
The idea of offering travels by train and public transports at such low prices does not really come from the desire to allow Germans to travel to Germany during the summer, but it is a tool to combat the current energy crisis instead. Anyway, this travel model encourages citizens to spend the summer within the state.
# Would it be an idea for Italy too?
The proposals of Germany and Denmark could be ideal also for Italy and domestic tourism, also because the train is becoming the preferred means for many Italians thanks to the low prices, the ability to carry as much luggage as you want (impossible in the plane) and the fact that they’re getting faster and faster.
Meanwhile, also “Trenitalia” has launched offers for the summer although not up to Denmark and Germany. The “Summer Promo Frecce” allows for example to travel on Frecciarossa and Frecciargento paying the ticket up to 60% less.
LAURA MALTAGLIATI
(Original article by Beatrice Barazzetti )