German-Polish youth ticket for train journeys comes closer - Germany and Poland Launch Youth Rail Pass to Strengthen Cross-Border Ties in 2026
A new German-Polish youth rail ticket, the 'German-Polish Friendship Pass', is set to launch in summer 2026. This initiative aims to make cross-border travel easier for young people. Discussions about this scheme have been ongoing for several years, with funding now secured for its development.
The project received a boost in 2024 when the Bundestag’s budget committee allocated €5.8 million to the scheme. This idea follows the success of the German-French Friendship Pass, introduced in 2023 for travellers aged 18 to 27.
Christian Hirte, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, confirmed that talks with Polish authorities and rail operators are still in progress. Key details, such as ticket allocation, usage terms, and the number of passes each country will offer, remain unresolved. The German Federal Ministry of Transport officially announced the launch plans after a query from Andrea Lübcke, a Green Party member of the Bundestag. No specific timeline has been made public for when the German and Polish transport ministers will finalise negotiations. Despite this, Lübcke welcomed the progress, describing it as 'an important signal' for young people in Brandenburg and Poland.
The German-Polish Friendship Pass is expected to begin operations in mid-2026. Once finalised, it will provide a new travel option for young people moving between the two countries. This scheme builds on existing cross-border cooperation while addressing logistical and financial details in the coming months.
