Berlin makes public transport free for school kids

New ticket promotes public transport usage in the city

Berlin has made public transport in the city free for school children (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

From today, school children can ride Berlin’s public transport network for free.

A new ticket gives all eligible school kids in Berlin and wider Brandenburg state aged six and over free rides on the capital’s U-bahn and S-bahn network, as well as on the tram and bus system.

Eligible children must register online for a Schülerticket to qualify.

The aim, according to the city’s transport association VBB, is to increase public transport usage and help families with travel costs.

In addition, VBB launched cheaper public transport fares for apprentices in Berlin.

Apprentices in Berlin who show proof of their training provider will pay just €365 a year (working out at €1 a day) to use the city’s public transport network.

“The free student ticket will be a milestone in bringing young people closer to public transport,” said Berlin transport senator Regine Günther. “Families benefit from saved costs and the climate from avoided emissions.”

Berlin follows in the footsteps of Luxembourg, which earlier this year said it would make all public transport in the country free from 1 March 2020.