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The Sun
18-07-2025
- The Sun
The little-known way to travel across Spain by train for FREE this summer
FOR anyone travelling across Spain, there is a clever hack to get train journeys for free. Trainline has revealed a handy tip on how to travel through parts of Spain for absolutely nothing this summer. 4 4 To get journeys for free, visitors can buy a combined Cercanías ticket, which is called the Combinado Cercanías in Spanish. The ticket essentially is included free of charge with tickets for some long-distance trains - these are run by Renfe and include AVE trains. Travellers who have already bought a long-distance ticket won't need to buy another one to take a connecting local train as it is free with the combined Cercanías ticket. The only condition is that you travel within four hours of when the booked train departs or leaves. So if you're heading into the likes of Madrid or Barcelona by train, you will need to buy an actual ticket. But from there, if you want to head out of the city to see mountains, lakes and other more tourist-free areas, you can do so by using the secondary and free ticket. Sarah Helppi, UK Country Director at Trainline, added: 'This nifty feature means that in many cities you can get to the train station where your journey starts, or onto another location when you've reached your final stop, completely free of charge. "For those keen to explore Spain, it means you can go beyond the main tourist hubs without the need to spend more.' You don't have to faff around with printed tickets either as you can get a PDF on your phone - which you can do on the Trainline app. If you want to buy a physical ticket, you can input the 5-digit code on the ticket into a ticket machine on the Cercanías train station platform. Huge new train station to open in world's most popular city 4 This will print out the Combinado Cercanías ticket so you don't have to worry about your phone running out of charge. Here are some of the best ways to see Spain via train, according to Trainline. You can reach Madrid on high-speed trains from the cities of Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Malaga and Toleda. One Sun Travel writer visited Madrid last year where they discovered amazing art galleries, swanky bars and £22 flights. To then explore out of the city, hop on the Madrid Cercanías train network where you can go out into the Guadarrama Mountains. Up there, there's a medieval monastery and traditional restaurants. From Seville, you can pick up a commuter Cercanias train from Santa Justa station. That will take you out to the hill towns of the Sierra Norte, Aljarafe, Dos Hermanos and Utrera. Have a look before you travel at train routes and where a free ticket out of the city can get you for your next holiday. Sun Travel's favourite train journeys in the world Sun Travel's journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences. Davos to Geneva, Switzerland "After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass." - Caroline McGuire Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen "Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you're whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too - as you'll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way." Kara Godfrey London to Paris by Eurostar "Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what's so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won't have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord." - Sophie Swietochowski Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail "From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond." - Hope Brotherton Beijing to Ulaanbatar "The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city's high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I've witnessed anywhere." - Ryan Gray Before you go, check all the travel rules in Spain, from where to wear bikinis to beach games. And from someone who visits Spain at least 8 times a year – here's how to avoid the common tourist mistakes that cost you money. 4
Daily Mail
13-07-2025
- Daily Mail
The world's richest country where public transport is FREE - can you guess the European destination?
Public transport costs can quickly add up when you're travelling as a family. Luckily, there's one incredibly beautiful country where you won't have to pay a penny. Luxembourg is consistently ranked among the world's wealthiest countries with an average salary of €75,919/£65,752 per year. Despite its residents' high salaries, the country's public transport is completely free to use and even tourists don't need to pay for travel. Luxembourg has one of the highest rates of car ownership in the world, with 681 cars to every person registered in 2019. In a bid to cut carbon emissions and encourage Luxembourgers to ditch their cars for short journeys, the country's free public transport scheme was introduced in 2020. Buses, trains and trams are all included for free although passengers do still have to pay for a first class seat. At weekends, tourists can even hop on the country's night bus system without needing to pay. And if you like to cycle, it's also free to bring your bike on any of the country's trains. However, tourists will need to be aware of one catch to the scheme. As Luxembourg is one of Europe's smallest countries, many tourists visit it for the day from either Germany, Belgium or France. If they take public transport into Luxembourg, they will need to pay for the part of their journey on the other side of the border. However, if you're purely holidaying in Luxembourg the country's public transport system is a fantastic wait to cut costs. Tourists can wander the Chemin de la Corniche for incredible views of Luxembourg City before hopping on the train to explore its wine region or travelling north to 'Little Switzerland'.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Care leavers to get free bus travel in and around Bristol for longer
People leaving care will now be able to use buses across the west of England for free until they turn 26 years 2023, a scheme has been in place allowing 18-21-year-old care leavers free bus travel across Bath, Bristol, North Somerset and South has now been extended to cover care leavers until their 26th birthday, which could save each of them up to £1,050 a year, according to the West of England Combined Authority (Weca)."We've got many more care leavers at risk of homelessness, health, addiction or mental health issues so this is really important," said Weca's mayor. Helen Godwin used to be a cabinet member for children's services at Bristol City Council, before she was elected as Weca mayor on 1 explained care leavers "often don't have the same outcomes" as young people who have not been in care. "We have many more care leavers who are not in education, employment or training," she scheme is being subsidised as part of a £16m bus grant secured by North Somerset Council and Weca, which takes in the local authority areas of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire."We've always tried to support our care leavers up to the age of 25, just because sometimes when life is more complicated it can take a bit longer for young people to get themselves into a situation where maybe there are in regular work or able to study," Ms Godwin added. The charity Barnardo's called for free bus travel for care leavers in 2023, following a pilot scheme in Cornwall. At the time, the charity's director of children's services, Hugh Sherriffe, said: "Leaving care is a very challenging time and having access to free travel can have a positive and powerful impact on so many areas of young people's lives, helping them to take up opportunities that might otherwise have been denied them."Leaders in the west of England have welcomed the extension, including South Gloucestershire Council's leader Maggie Tyrrell."The investment will make a real difference to some of our most vulnerable young people and help them access education, jobs and vital support networks," she said.
