German-Polish youth ticket for train journeys comes closer - Germany and Poland Launch Youth Rail Pass for Cross-Border Travel in 2026
A new rail pass for young travellers between Germany and Poland is set to launch in summer 2026. The project, known as the Deutsch-Polnische Freundschaftspass (German-Polish Friendship Pass), has been in development for years and received €5.8 million in funding this year. Officials describe it as a major step forward for cross-border travel.
The idea for the ticket follows the success of the German-French Friendship Pass, which lets young people travel freely between the two countries for six months. State Secretary Christian Hirte confirmed the 2026 launch date in response to a question from the Greens. He noted that final details, including ticket allocation and usage rules, are still being negotiated.
Discussions are ongoing with Polish authorities and national rail operators to finalise the scheme. Green Party politician Andrea Lübcke called the progress 'an important signal' and praised the move as concrete advancement. The pass aims to make border-crossing easier for young travellers, though the exact number of available passes remains undecided.
Once fully agreed, the German-Polish Friendship Pass will allow young people to explore both countries by train. The €5.8 million funding marks a clear commitment to the project. Final terms and ticket distribution will be confirmed before the planned 2026 start.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
