EU gives away over 35,000 train tickets to 18-year-olds

Brussels – More than 35,000 young Europeans can once again travel across Europe with free train tickets. The European Commission kicked off the spring round of its DiscoverEU program on Wednesday in Brussels. Applications for a travel pass and a DiscoverEU youth card can be submitted until April 16. Young Austrians can also explore the cultures of all European countries for up to 30 days.

Young citizens of EU member states as well as from Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Turkey can participate. They must be born between July 1, 2006, and June 30, 2007, and answer questions from a quiz. Group applications with up to three friends are also possible. The travel period is between July 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026. Participants with disabilities or health issues can be accompanied.

Youth card with numerous discounts

Participants will receive not only the travel pass but also the DiscoverEU youth card, which offers discounts for public transport, hotels, food, as well as cultural, sports, and other activities in 36 European countries. In addition, the national Erasmus+ agencies organize meetings before, during, and after the trip. In Austria, the OeAD – Agency for Education and Internationalization is responsible. We will have two meet-ups in the summer of 2025: a meeting in Vienna from June 20 to 22 and one in the Salzkammergut region from July 22 to 25.

The program was launched by the EU Commission in 2018. Each year, there are two calls for applications, one in spring and one in autumn. In the autumn, more than 135,000 young people applied, including 3,700 from Austria. A total of 35,762 passes were issued, with 718 allocated in Austria. Applications are made online through the European Youth Portal https://youth.europa.eu/discovereu_de, where interested parties can find all the information about participation and the exact process.

European Minister Plakolm welcomes the initiative

“This year we celebrate 30 years of Austria in the EU, and for young people, there is also the chance to travel for free across Europe for 30 days in this anniversary year. There is no better way to experience Europe than with the Interrail ticket. With projects like this, Europe is not just a spot on the map, but becomes part of our identity. It is a great opportunity to meet other people and cultures while also being ambassadors of our Austrian culture,” said Austria’s European Minister Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP) in a statement.

“Young people benefit enormously from this initiative, as they not only broaden their horizons but also develop personally: According to a recent survey by the European Commission 2024 among travelers returning from all countries, two-thirds reported that it was their first time traveling abroad by train. For many, it was also the first time they traveled without parents or companions and they reported feeling more independent as a result,” added OeAD Managing Director Jakob Calice.

“This way, 18-year-olds can explore the continent, get to know the people, cultures, and traditions in Europe, collect unforgettable experiences, make friendships, and last but not least, improve their language skills. Through the enthusiastic exchange of young people, Europe grows together. They shape our future, and the better they know other European countries, the more natural this future will be for them in a united Europe,” said Sophia Kircher, transport and youth spokesperson for the ÖVP in the European Parliament and deputy chair of the Transport Committee.

Andreas Schieder, SPÖ EU delegation leader and member of the Transport Committee, and SPÖ parliamentarian Hannes Heide, member of the Culture Committee, also call on young people in Austria to take advantage of the DiscoverEU opportunity: “DiscoverEU is a great chance for young people in the EU to engage with each other and learn from one another. Projects like this make the European Union tangible and strengthen European cohesion as well as cultural exchange. At the same time, it is a great opportunity to make train travel an attractive, climate-friendly means of transport for young people in the EU. The future of European mobility lies on the rails.” (April 2, 2025)