Media: Netherlands considers cheaper public transport to ease fuel crisis

Authorities in the Netherlands are considering the introduction of a temporary discounted public transport pass as fuel prices continue to rise, NOS reports.

The proposal, advanced by the opposition coalition GroenLinks–PvdA (“GreenLeft–Labour Party”), envisages the summer rollout of a special monthly public transport pass priced at €49, granting unlimited travel across buses, trams, and metro services, with peak-hour usage excluded.

The initiative is designed to run for three summer months and, according to its proponents, could cut travel costs by as much as 60 percent, while also alleviating household expenditures and curbing fuel consumption by incentivizing a shift from private car use to public transport.

Peak hours are excluded on the grounds that commuting costs are already partially reimbursed by employers, while the scheme is primarily aimed at personal and tourist travel.

Sources indicate that the minority government in The Hague has responded positively to the proposal.

The Dutch parliament is set to hold debates on measures to address the energy crisis triggered by the war in the Middle East. Among the options under consideration is the establishment of a dedicated fund to support low-income households struggling to pay utility bills.

By Vafa Guliyeva