hidden europe 60

Legacy Railcards

by hidden europe

Summary

So you thought the idea of a discount railcard was something new? Think again - the Swiss Halbtax card was introduced in the 19th century.

Luxembourg’s idea of offering free rail travel (see the previous article) is certainly novel, but many countries across Europe have experimented with allowing discounted travel for travellers prepared to invest in a special card. Such schemes are often regarded as a feature of the modern era, with many cards becoming available in the 1970s as state-owned railways moved away from rigid distance-based tariffs.

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