Background information

The uncertainty linked to the duration of the war in Ukraine is damaging the international political and economic context, and the exceptional social and economic circumstances that have been dragging on since 2020, derived from numerous factors: the health crisis, the extraordinary and unexpected rise in the prices of certain raw materials and intermediate goods, the high volatility of electricity prices, and the difficulties in the supply of certain essential products and materials. All this is also affecting the Spanish economy as a whole. The economic scenario in which Spain currently finds itself and the persistence of uncertainties at international level continue to require the urgent adoption of exceptional measures in order to ensure sustainability in different economic and social areas.

Content of measure

Royal Decree-Law 14/2022 creates a specific multi-journey ticket for each suburban train network (RENFE, 'Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Españoles', Spanish rail network), for unlimited journeys, between any origin and destination, for the period between 1 September and 31 December 2022. The ticket will be free of charge for all users who make 16 or more journeys during the four months of validity of the voucher. Customers will have to pay a deposit of €10 to purchase the new recurrent travel pass, which will be returned at the end of the validity period.

A special multi-journey ticket with unlimited journeys will also be created for medium-distance services, valid for four months (between 1 September and 31 December 2022). One ticket will be sold for each of the routes (origin-destination) and will be free of charge for users who make 16 or more journeys during the period of validity. In this case, a deposit of €20 will have to be paid, which will be returned after 31 December.

RENFE will suspend the sale of all the usual multi-journey tickets and season tickets during the four months. Only single journey or return tickets will be available for sale at the usual fares.

Use of measure

There is no estimate of the number of users. Any citizen who makes 16 or more journeys in the four months of the voucher's validity can benefit from the measure.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Informed	Informed
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

In general, trade unions and employers' representatives have not been involved in the adoption of Royal Decree-Law 14/2022. It is a regulation approved by the Spanish government. Trade unions want to reactivate the social dialogue, and want to participate in the design of measures of economic sustainability and support for the most vulnerable social groups.

There is no specific information on this particular measure.

Views and reactions

According to CCOO (Comisiones Obreras) trade union, the approval of these discounts on the sale of RENFE ('Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Españoles', Spanish rail network) tickets has created some unease among Renfe Group workers, because their remuneration is linked to the revenue obtained from the sale of transport tickets. CCOO trade union supports any initiative aimed at encouraging the role of collective public transport to face the current scenario of high energy prices, promoting the change to a safer, more reliable, comfortable, economic and sustainable means of transport than the private car. However, these measures cannot be to the detriment of the workers whose activity and salaries are related to the object of this measure announced by the government.

There are no specific views from employers organisations.

Sources

• 01 August 2022: Royal Decree-Law 14/2022 (www.boe.es)
• 27 December 2022: Royal Decree-Act 20/2022 (www.boe.es)
• 27 December 2023: Royal Decree-Law 8/2023, of 27th December (www.boe.es)