Germany Introduces Affordable Nationwide Public Transport Pass.

Germany has launched a new flat-rate public transport ticket, the "Deutschlandticket", which offers unlimited access to the country's bus and metro systems, as well as local and regional trains, for €49 per month. Policymakers hope the ticket will bring relief for consumers amid soaring inflation and encourage people to favour mass transit in the name of the environment. However, the pass's success is far from assured, with critics arguing the money could have been used to improve rail infrastructure. Similar initiatives have been launched in Spain and Austria to boost rail use and reduce emissions from transport.