Train fares up after Lithuania's 50% discount ends

High train ticket prices have caught some passengers off guard following the end of a two-month scheme that halved domestic fares. Some travellers feel prices are now higher than they were before the subsidised period, which ran throughout April and May.

The 50% discount on train tickets was introduced by the government after the fuel prices surged sharply as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.

Rail operator LTG Link said fares had simply returned to their previous levels and stressed that current ticket prices are set and determined by a dynamic pricing system based on demand, occupancy and booking time.

According to Julija Leimonė, a communications partner for LTG Link, passengers who book in advance can pay up to 40% less than the standard fare, with prices rising gradually as the departure date approaches. In some cases – last-minute purchases or faster services – tickets can cost up to 10 per cent more than the standard rate.

Dynamic pricing is currently applied to seven domestic and four international routes, according to LTG Link.

According to the company, tickets on the Vilnius–Kaunas route typically cost between €5 and €10 before the discount was introduced. During the subsidy period, fares fell to as little as €2.50, while dynamic pricing was suspended.

LTG Link said around one million passenger journeys were made using discounted tickets over the two months. The company also reported a surge in new customers, with about 35,000 first-time users purchasing tickets through digital channels.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has not extended the scheme but says it will assess its impact and discuss possible future measures with LTG and the Ministry of Finance in August. Transport Minister Juras Taminskas has indicated that any new fare reductions would be more likely later in the summer.

Modesta Gusarovienė, head of business development at LTG Link also disclosed that the company was considering introducing multi-journey train tickets.

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