France and Ireland are launching a single ticket in the summer of 2023 that can be used for flight-free travel in both countries. The initiative aims to promote “green mobility”. The news were announced in late November, when Micheál Martin – at the time, head of the Irish Government – visited French president Emmanuel Macron. Since December of this year, Martin serves as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defense.
“The objective will be to allow, in particular our young people, to travel between our two countries thanks to a green, simple and reasonably priced deal,” the two leaders said in a joint statement.
Several European countries are investing in alternatives to air transport. A new crossing between Spain and Ireland was also launched this year. Last month, the Brittany Ferries vessel “Salamanca” completed its first crossing between the Irish port of Rosslare and the port of Bilbao. The ferry is the first of the fleet to sail with natural gas (LNG), and will depart from Bilbao every Thursday and Sunday to Ireland.
Until recently, the route had been operated by the Connemara vessel. The company mentioned the ship had a reduced number of services for travelers. “Now that the route is established and operates smoothly, attention has been focused on improving services and increasing passenger traffic,” the company said in a statement.
The “Salamanca” is more like a cruise ship than a simple ferry, and thanks to this, passengers can enjoy the facilities designed to make the most of the crossing. The addition of this ship to the route with Ireland will expand and improve the offer for both freight and passengers, offering the latter a much more comfortable crossing.
Through the new Ireland-France pass, travelers can purchase just one ticket that will cover all modes of transportation. According to Euronews, it will not be a multi-journey pass like the Interrail system.
The objective is to allow people to travel between our two countries thanks to a green, simple and reasonably priced deal.
Emmanuel Macron and Micheál Martin
Currently, passengers traveling between Ireland and France must purchase individual tickets for the French trains, Irish trains, and ferry legs of the journey. These tickets can be booked on the two countries’ national rail websites.
The Franco-Irish initiative is still in its infancy, but it is anticipated to be very similar to the ticket that offers young people discounts on trains between France and Germany. More details on the Franco-Irish initiative will be released in January 2023. In a push toward greener travel, France and Ireland follow the lead of countries like Spain and Portugal in announcing a high-speed rail.
