The EU is offering teenagers a free Interrail pass this summer

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From Cosmopolitain

You might have relied on cheap flights to get your European holiday fix, but train travel could be about to make a resurgence.

If there's one unexpected bonus from the delay to Brexit, it's the chance to get nab a free rail ticket if you're an 18-year-old British citizens. DiscoverEU, an initiative set up by the European Union, wants to offer teenagers the chance to“experience Europe’s diversity, better understand each other and learn more about Europe”.

[Bmblbzzz]

This is all the more impressive because some years ago, to celebrate the 50th (I think?) anniversary of Interrail, the EU^» (European Union - about) Parliament suggested the very same thing but it was rejected by the Commission as being too expensive.

Edit: It was the 40th.

In 2012 the 40th anniversary was celebrated with a free party on the Superfast ferry from Ancona to Patras with a swimming pool and DJs. An initiative by the European Parliament to offer all 18-year-olds a free InterRail pass to promote European unity was rejected by the European Commission in 2017 because of the price of 1.5 billion euros.

https://retours.eu/en/43-interrail-posters/

[stuving]

This is all the more impressive because some years ago, to celebrate the 50th (I think?) anniversary of Interrail, the EU^» (European Union - about) Parliament suggested the very same thing but it was rejected by the Commission as being too expensive.

Edit: It was the 40th.

In 2012 the 40th anniversary was celebrated with a free party on the Superfast ferry from Ancona to Patras with a swimming pool and DJs. An initiative by the European Parliament to offer all 18-year-olds a free InterRail pass to promote European unity was rejected by the European Commission in 2017 because of the price of 1.5 billion euros.

https://retours.eu/en/43-interrail-posters/

Yes, but ... it's limited to 20,000 in all and 2,500 in Britain; total cost €12M.