Moving around Catalonia (and the rest of Spain) will be easier and cheaper from this summer. The Generalitat has announced the creation of a new monthly flat rate ticket for only 20 euros that will allow unlimited travel on all Rodalies trains in Catalonia.
The measure, announced by the Secretary of Mobility, Manel Nadal, will also be valid for the rest of the State’s suburban trains. We tell you all the details.
When does the 20€ flat rate of Rodalies come into force?
The pass will come into force on July 1, when the current bonuses -which allow free travel until June 30, 2025- end, and will be valid for one month from the time of purchase.
How much will it cost?
Evidently, 20€, which will allow travel throughout the Rodalies network without distinction.
However, there will be discounts. It will be free for minors and will cost half (10 €) for young people.
Another Generalitat’s own ticket in 2026
Although this new season ticket is the big headline, Nadal has also advanced that the Govern is working on a second own ticket, scheduled for before 2026, which would also allow travel on other means of public transport of the State, within the framework of a unified system that is being negotiated with the Spanish Government.
This shift towards more structured fares comes after a period of massive bonuses. The Generalitat has explained that, although the discounts have served to encourage the use of public transport (with increases of 30% and 40% in demand), they have also brought the system close to collapse. For this reason, the new direction seeks to reduce the discounts and reinforce services, especially now that progress is being made in the fare and technological integration of public transport in Catalonia.
Tension among Media Distancia users
This last measure will also help to reduce the tension among users who claim that the drop in bonuses in favor of the introduction of this Rodalies flat fare will force those who do not live in a municipality with a Rodalies stop but do, for example, with a Media Distancia stop, to pay more, for example, for a short trip from the municipality with Rodalies to the municipality without, than what they paid for the long trip.
For example, unlimited travel between Barcelona and Maçanet-Massanes (56 km.), if it is on Rodalies, is included in the flat rate and will therefore cost 20 euros. However, going from Barcelona to Caldes de Malavella, which is only 10 minutes further by train,is not included, because it is already part of Media Distancia, so the subscription can reach 100 euros for a journey that is very similar in time and distance to the previous one.
The Government has just announced an increase from 40 to 60% of the bonus on the price of Regional season tickets to alleviate the comparative disadvantage.