Some Media Distancia train users complain that seats are taken that are not always used, causing capacity problems
Renfe has been analyzing for a few weeks now how to end the abuse that many users make of free passes on Media Distancia trains with reservations that they do not use later. Since the holders of these subscriptions can take free trains in which they travel regularly – only after paying the deposit of 20 euros that they will get back if they make an average of four trips per month – some reserve seats that they do not use later.
Specifically, Renfe estimates the fraud at 10% related to the total reservations, according to public company sources to this newspaper. They assure that they are analyzing the measures to be taken to prevent this abuse “however small” and that several alternatives are on the table. The same sources confirm that among the measures being analysed, “the confiscation of bail and cancellation of payment in the most serious cases” are envisaged.
The controversy arose a few days ago after some users posted photos of empty train cars on their social networks, despite being full in the reservations. From Renfe, they explain that some of these photos were taken in AVE trains that are not included in the free subscription service and they can’t even verify that these photos are current.
The new protocol that Renfe is preparing before the end of the year includes penalties such as failure to return the deposit of 20 euros if it is verified that a seat has been reserved that has not been used after that. The measures should be ready before the end of 2022 as the government has extended this free commute and medium distances for the whole year 2023.
Free subscriptions mobilized more than 5 million travelers in September and October, almost 60% more than in the same two months of last year and 20% compared to the same period in 2019, before the pandemic.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
