CP—Comboios de Portugal has officially launched the Green Rail Pass, an innovative transport ticket designed to promote sustainable and accessible mobility for Portuguese residents. As of 6 p.m. on the launch day, 2,230 subscriptions had been sold, indicating a strong initial interest in the new scheme.
The Green Rail Pass, which came into force on 21 October 2024, offers unlimited journeys on various rail services for a fixed monthly price of €20. This includes access to Regional and InterRegional trains, Lisbon and Oporto Urban trains, Coimbra Urban trains, and Intercity trains, provided passengers reserve seats in advance. The pass is also available for 60 or 90 days at €40 and €60 respectively, offering commuters flexibility and potential savings.
One of the key features of the Green Rail Pass is the inclusion of the Intercidades service, where passengers can travel in 2nd class with a compulsory seat reservation made up to 24 hours in advance. This pass, however, is not valid on premium services such as Alfa Pendular, international trains, or 1st class journeys.
While the Green Rail Pass aims to boost rail transport usage and replace the old National Rail Pass with a wider range of services, not everyone is pleased with the move. The Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants (ALLRAIL), a European advocacy association of independent passenger rail companies, has criticised the introduction of the pass, claiming it will “cannibalise” the EU single rail market.
ALLRAIL Secretary General Nick Brooks stated, “This is not the time for hesitation. This is the time for courage, for doing what’s necessary to create a fair, competitive market. Private investors will come to Portugal, but only if there are STRONG measures against cannibalisation by the taxpayer.”
The association argues that the €20 monthly price is unsustainably low and will undermine efforts to open the market to new entrants. They point to examples in Sweden and the Czech Republic, where market liberalisation has led to lower fares without the need for heavy subsidies.
CP’s Green Rail Pass is exclusive to residents of Portugal and can be loaded onto the CP Card, allowing for easy top-ups at CP ticket offices or new automatic machines at stations in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. Despite the controversy, the pass offers a highly attractive cost-benefit ratio for frequent travellers, making it a competitive option for those who regularly commute around the country.
The launch of the Green Rail Pass marks a significant shift in Portugal’s rail transport policy, but it remains to be seen how the market will respond to these changes and whether ALLRAIL’s concerns will be addressed.
