The Euopean Union will consider giving all Europeans a free continental rail pass for their 18th birthday but officials said the idea faces numerous obstacles.
“We admire the boldness and the level of ambition, and we are ready to explore it further,” transport commissioner Violeta Bulc told the European Parliament on Tuesday in a response to a resolution backed by lawmakers, including the main conservative bloc. [...]
A summer rite of passage for millions of Europeans since the 1970s, the InterRail system is now used by some 300,000 people a year and costs those under 26 years old €479 (£421) for a full month.
With five million or more Europeans turning 18 each year, the potential cost and strain on the rail system in popular destinations, could be immense. One option, Bulc said, could be to limit the issue of the birthday passes via a lottery.
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