The energy transition and the need to decarbonise transport pressured Europe to look at collective mobility not only from a commercial perspective, but also as a public policy tool promoting socioeconomic and environmental cohesion. In this context, single passes emerged that can be used on different types of transport at national and regional scale, as part of the transformation towards universal access to collective transport.
At the centre of these transformative policies are two pioneering examples: the Austrian annual Klimaticket and the German monthly Deutschlandticket. The Klimaticket, launched in October 2021 by the public operator ÖBB as part of Austria's Mobility Plan 2030, costs 1,095 euros at launch and rises to 1,400 euros in 2026, allowing travel for one year on all regular rail services, urban transport and having regional and national reach. A 2026 survey by the public entity VCÖ revealed that 58% of respondents started using the train instead of the car as the main reason for purchasing a Klimaticket.
Germany followed Austria two years later, implementing the Deutschlandticket after the experimental success of the 9-euro ticket in summer 2022. This monthly pass of 49 euros (which rose to 58 euros in 2025 and 63 euros in 2026) allows travel on Deutsche Bahn regional trains, S-Bahn services and urban transport nationwide. A 2026 study by the German Centre for Rail Transport Research showed that users save three billion euros annually with the use of the pass, with a slight decrease in car usage being observed.
These pioneering examples catalysed the implementation of similar passes in other European countries. Hungary announced in 2023 a monthly pass of 49 euros, Spain launched in 2026 a 60-euro pass, and France attempted a pilot experience in 2024 with the Pass Rail for young people. However, these passes face significant challenges, namely stable and long-term public funding, with the German federal government and states guaranteeing up to 3 billion euros per year until 2030 to compensate transport companies. Furthermore, investments in infrastructure are needed to meet increased demand, risking overcrowding and service degradation.
