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Interrail: EU gives away 35,500 train tickets to young Europeans

by AI | 02.Oct 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The EU initiative “DiscoverEU” allows young people to discover Europe. Tens of thousands can apply again for the free train tickets. However, some conditions must be met for this.

The ICE train is ready to depart from Frankfurt Central Station. Photo: Helmut Fricke/dpa

Brussels – 35,500 young Europeans who turned 18 this year again have the chance to get a free ticket for train travel across the continent. The European Commission is launching the next round of the travel program «DiscoverEU». Young adults can apply for the tickets until October 16 at 12 p.m., as announced by the EU Commission.

Citizens of EU states as well as from Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Turkey can participate. Those who want to win a free ticket must first prove their knowledge in a small quiz.

Between March 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, the winners can then travel through Europe for free for up to 30 days. Those born in 2006 are eligible to participate. Participants with disabilities or health issues can apply to be accompanied.

The initiative «DiscoverEU» started in 2018 and goes back to the idea of the German activists Vincent-Immanuel Herr and Martin Speer. The proposal to give every EU citizen an Interrail ticket for their 18th birthday to familiarize young people with the continent received much support from politics and society.

According to the EU Commission, since the start of the program, 1.3 million young people have applied for around 320,000 tickets.