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Intercity transport across the Region of Murcia will be free on Tuesday September 22 to mark World Car-Free Day, with the regional government applying a 100% discount to services under its jurisdiction for the full day.

 

Mr García Montoro, the Minister of Infrastructure, said the initiative reflects the effort to make public transport a genuine alternative to private cars.

 

"This initiative is part of the regional government's commitment to making public transport a real alternative to private vehicles and making it easier for more and more citizens to use it for their journeys," he said.

 

The free day builds on an existing 20% discount on intercity transport passes and multi-trip tickets, which already reduces the everyday cost of using public transport.

 

"We are making public transport increasingly affordable, accessible and sustainable, with measures that address the price, quality and efficiency of services," Mr García Montoro added.

 

The announcement comes as the regional government continues to renew its bus fleet. Seventeen fully electric buses from the new Movibus fleet are already in service across the region, with the total set to reach 44 vehicles once the rollout is complete. The €28.7 million investment is co-financed with European Next Generation funds.

 

Twelve of the new buses serve Murcia's metropolitan connections with Alcantarilla, Beniel and Santomera, while another five run on the Murcia-Molina de Segura, Cabo de Palos-Veneziola and La Unión-Cartagena routes. A network of 44 charging points is also being installed in Cartagena, Alcantarilla and Molina de Segura, representing a further €3.8 million of investment.

 

Demand has grown alongside the improved service. The public transport network in La Manga carried more than 594,000 passengers over the summer, supported by four additional buses, two of them electric.

 

Connections to the Region of Murcia International Airport have also improved, with daily services from Murcia and Cartagena running since April, backed by more than €480,000 a year in investment and timetables built around flight schedules.

 

The regional government is also looking at how transport rules need to evolve, and has opened a public consultation, running until October 16, on a new decree governing pets on public transport, aimed at setting common conditions for safety, coexistence and animal welfare.

 

 

Image: CARM