Too expensive and too complicated: Greenpeace curbs French public transport

France ranks 21 out of 30 European countries and Paris 27 out of 30 capitals, in a ranking that takes into account the price of public transport, social fares and the simplicity of subscriptions, published this Thursday by Greenpeace.

The environmental organization criticizes the French system for the high cost of its trains and its lack of rate integration at the national level, the formulas; especially for young people and the elderly, the TGV in TER not being especially valid (and vice versa).

Regarding Paris, Greenpeace finds the annual subscription (925 euros) expensive, especially since it covers the entire Ile-de-France and there is no cheaper formula to move only around the capital. On the contrary, the NGO welcomes the social price of Ile-de-France.

Amsterdam, London and Dublin, the most expensive cities

He also points out that employers reimburse at least 50% of their employees’ public transport passes, but this French specificity does not seem to enter into his classification.

For Greenpeace, the formulas must be simple, cover all modes of transport in vast regions, apply to everyone -non-residents included-, be “affordable for all” and be free or less expensive for the lowest income, unemployed, retired, young, disabled, asylum seekers, etc. The ranking does not take into account the quality of the transport networks.

Unsurprisingly, Luxembourg, where public transport is free, is number 1, followed by Malta, Austria, Germany, Cyprus and Spain. At 21st, France is ranked at the same level as Finland, Italy and Slovakia, Switzerland in 7th place, Belgium in 12th and Bulgaria in last place.

Greenpeace welcomes “relatively affordable tickets” that can be used across the country in Germany, Austria and Hungary, noting that in-app subscriptions exist in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Hungary, the Netherlands and Swiss. The NGO is waiting to learn more about the “single ticket” that the government wants to introduce in France.

Among the capitals, Luxembourg, Tallinn and Valletta are the first, with free transport. They are followed by Prague, Bratislava, Madrid and Rome. Brussels is 13. At the end of the ranking, Paris precedes Amsterdam, London and Dublin, the most expensive cities.