https://www.dw.com/en/germany-france-offer-youth-free-cross-border-rail-passes/a-65880190 You need to enable JavaScript to run this app. 1. Skip to content 2. Skip to main menu 3. Skip to more DW sites * Latest videos * Latest audio Regions * Africa * Asia * Europe * Latin America * Middle East * North America * Germany Topics * Climate * Equality * Health * Human Rights * Migration * Technology Categories * Business * Science * Environment * Culture * Sports Live TV Latest audioLatest videos In focus Donald Trump EU asylum policy Climate change SocietyGermany Germany, France offer youth free cross-border rail passes 6 hours ago6 hours ago "Friendship Passes" will be given to 60,000 residents of France and Germany aged 17-27 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Elysee Treaty. The ministers also said they hoped for a more permanent exchange system. https://p.dw.com/p/4SQRi Two high-speed trains parked nose-to-nose in Nice, FranceThe French and German governments each plan to give away 30,000 rail passes designed to enable a short cross-border holiday or tripImage: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/picture alliance Advertisement Germany and France have announced they will give away 60,000 train tickets -- half in each country -- beginning Monday as a way to foster relations between the two countries. The transport ministers of Germany and France, Volker Wissman and Clement Beaune, said their project aimed both to further Franco-German cooperation and friendship, as well as to promote environmental consciousness among young adults traveling. How will the 'Friendship Pass' work? The new program will see 60,000 one-month passes handed out to young residents of France and Germany between the ages of 17 and 27 on a first-come, first-served basis, according the government website on the promotion. In Germany, distribution will start on Monday, June 12, and continue as long as supplies last. The tickets are valid for one month and can be used for several journeys -- but one travel day must be used crossing the Franco-German border and another returning. The goal here is to prevent people hoping to use the tickets to save some money on their regular commute domestically. The one-month tickets can be used for long-distance and local train travel on seven days of a user's choice on either side of the border and will be valid for use between July 1 and December 31, 2023. However, the tickets will not be totally free. The free pass will not include the small fee for reserving a seat on a high-speed cross-border train, which is required in France. Consumers will have to pay that themselves. Why are Germany and France giving away free train tickets? The scheme was conceived to mark the the 60th anniversary of the Elysee Treaty -- a treaty of friendship between the long belligerent neighbors signed in the aftermath of the first and second World Wars. Signed by German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and French President Charles DeGaulle on January 22, 1963, the treaty went into effect on July 2, 1963. German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (l) and French President Charles de Gaulle (r) sent a strong signal of friendship by signing the Elysee Treaty, paving the way for reconcilliation and economic progress in postwar Europe Image: Zuma/IMAGO German Transport Minister Volker Wissing, who called the scheme a "great opportunity for young people to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Elysee Treaty," noted the importance of such ongoing cooperation. "Current events in Europe show just how important mutual exchange is for the continued survival of a peaceful and democratic Europe," Wissing said, seemingly alluding to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and renewed warfare on European soil. Wissing's French colleague Beaune also emphasized the larger environmental signal the project was designed to send: "With this ticket we are celebrating Franco-German friendship and actively encouraging train use as a form of transportation." France, Germany celebrate 60 years of Elysee Treaty To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video First step towards cross-border rail passes? Moreover, Wissing used the occasion to suggest Germany's recently enacted national flat-rate public transport tickets should be valid in France and vice versa. France is currently working on its own flat-rate ticket modeled on Germany's so-called EUR49 ticket, which went into effect on May 1. The German ticket is a monthly nationwide flat-fare rail pass, but it's only valid for slower regional rail services, not more expensive high-speed trains. Though the German minister said he would be in favor of such a plan, he cautioned it would be a complex undertaking requiring much time and effort to implement. js/msh (dpa, KNA) Send us your feedback Your feedback Advertisement Skip next section Related topics Related topics GermanyRobert HabeckRhine RiverFranceFranceFranco-German relations Skip next section DW's Top Story DW's Top Story President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video address in early June President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video address in early June Ukraine: Zelenskyy says counteroffensive actions 'underway' Conflicts9 hours ago9 hours ago Two people in a rubber dinghy float down a flooded streetTwo people in a rubber dinghy float down a flooded street Kherson flooded: Rescues continue under Russian fire Conflicts13 hours ago13 hours ago Ukrainian servicemen evacuate local residents and cows on a barge from the flooded village of Afanasiyivka in the Mykolaiv region on June 9, 2023.Ukrainian servicemen evacuate local residents and cows on a barge from the flooded village of Afanasiyivka in the Mykolaiv region on June 9, 2023. Land mines dislodged by Ukraine dam disaster pose new threat Conflicts14 hours ago14 hours ago02:19 min Houses and other buildings are shown surrounded by water, after the collapse of the Kakhovka dam in UkraineHouses and other buildings are shown surrounded by water, after the collapse of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine Escaping the floods on Ukraine's Dnipro Catastrophe06/09/2023June 9, 202310 images Page 1 of 3 Skip next section More stories from DW More stories from DW Africa People with fuel canisters wait in line at a petrol station. People with fuel canisters wait in line at a petrol station. Panic-buying at the pumps as Nigeria scraps fuel subsidy Panic-buying at the pumps as Nigeria scraps fuel subsidy Society7 hours ago7 hours ago03:11 min More from Africa Asia People ride motorbikes in Hanoi with hands over their faces, or masks People ride motorbikes in Hanoi with hands over their faces, or masks Is Vietnam backtracking on its environmental promises? Is Vietnam backtracking on its environmental promises? Nature and Environment7 hours ago7 hours ago More from Asia Germany Closeup of a uniformed soldier in combat gear standing in front of an Airbus A400M planeCloseup of a uniformed soldier in combat gear standing in front of an Airbus A400M plane NATO set to launch military exercises over Germany NATO set to launch military exercises over Germany Conflicts06/09/2023June 9, 202305:36 min More from Germany Europe UEFA Champions League | Finale | Manchester City vs Inter MailandUEFA Champions League | Finale | Manchester City vs Inter Mailand Ilkay Gundogan finally gets his Champions League moment Ilkay Gundogan finally gets his Champions League moment Soccer2 hours ago2 hours ago More from Europe Middle East People gather to collect water in Khartoum, Sudan, Sunday, May 28, 2023.People gather to collect water in Khartoum, Sudan, Sunday, May 28, 2023. Sudan conflict fuels humanitarian disaster Sudan conflict fuels humanitarian disaster Politics12 hours ago12 hours ago More from Middle East North America Former President Donald Trump visits with campaign volunteers, speaking into a mic Former President Donald Trump visits with campaign volunteers, speaking into a mic Trump put highly guarded secrets at risk, indictment alleges Trump put highly guarded secrets at risk, indictment alleges Law and Justice11 hours ago11 hours ago01:35 min More from North America Latin America Soldiers and volunteers pose for a photo with the four Indigenous siblings who were missing after a deadly plane crash in Colombia's Solano jungle.Soldiers and volunteers pose for a photo with the four Indigenous siblings who were missing after a deadly plane crash in Colombia's Solano jungle. Children found alive after 40 days in Colombian jungle Children found alive after 40 days in Colombian jungle Society14 hours ago14 hours ago01:58 min More from Latin America Go to homepage Advertisement About DW * Who we are * Press * DW Global Media Forum DW offers * Learn German * DW Akademie Service * Newsletters * Reception * FAQ * Contact * Topics from A to Z B2B * Sales & Distribution * Travel * Advertising Follow us on (c) 2023 Deutsche WellePrivacy PolicyLegal noticeDigital accessibility