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What’s better than rail travel, you ask? Free rail travel! And if you’re as excited as us by the prospect of zipping around Europe by train for absolutely no money, then we’ve got some exciting news.
The EU has announced that any legal residents of any EU state, or a state associated with the Erasmus scheme (Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Türkiye), could be eligible for a brand-new rail pass under its DiscoverEU scheme.
Keen to absorb more of Europe’s history and top-tier culture? Now’s your chance. The scheme hopes to encourage young people to foster connections across the region, and applying actually sounds pretty straightforward. What’s more, you’ll have over a year to take your trip – the pass will be valid from March 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026!
Okay – there is a slight catch, as you need to have been born in 2006 to apply, but what an exciting opportunity, right? So, here’s what you need to know about the application process.
If this scheme sounds like a bit of you, head to the European Youth Portal and fill out the eligibility quiz. You’ll be asked five multiple choice questions plus a sixth, and you’ll be asked about your travel plans: what would you like to learn, how will you fund this trip – you get the picture.
Your quiz answers will be ranked on their correctness (so do your research!) and passes will be allocated based on the quota assigned to each country. If there are fewer applications than anticipated in one destination, those extra passes will be redistributed.
The EU plans on handing out a whopping 35,500 in total, and special support is available for participants with disabilities or health conditions, according to euronews.
The best part? You don’t have to go alone – that’s right, at the application stage you can either opt for a solo ticket or one for up to five friends. Only one person needs to answer the quiz questions, and you then share your barcode with your teammates.
Sounds pretty mega, doesn’t it? If you’re successful, you could win passes worth up to €283.26, and coach and ferry passes might even be included, too. Oh, and a European Youth Card valid for one year will be thrown in – that’s a whole load of discounts on cultural spaces and activities.
Once the trip is done, you’ll receive a certificate to demonstrate all the skills you’ve gained. Applications are open now and close at midday CET on Wednesday October 16, and travellers are expected to report back on their experiences and share it on their social media.
Did you see that Germany’s super-cheap monthly rail pass will become more expensive next year?
Plus: The world’s cheapest countries to travel to in 2025 have been revealed.
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