Ayuso promises accords to exempt students after Madrid restricts transport pass to registered residents
Madrid region on Monday began requiring local registration for its subsidised transport pass, drawing criticism from the left-wing opposition and rail operator Renfe. President Ayuso later said she would negotiate deals so university students from other regions can still benefit.
New registration rule takes effect
Starting Monday, Madrid's Tarjeta de Transporte Público Personal (TTP) requires applicants to be registered as residents in the region. The government published the regulation on Friday, enforcing a provision that has been on the books since 2011 but was never applied. The Consortium Regional de Transportes de Madrid (CRTM) said the step responds to the need to direct subsidies to contributors, who fund 90% of the network's cost through taxes. "El contribuyente madrileño sufraga con sus impuestos el 90% del transporte público, lo use o no lo use," Ayuso said, stressing that the funds must also go to expanding and paying workers of "one of the best public transport systems in the world." The change affects an estimated 200,000 people, the majority students from other regions and migrants who face barriers to registering.
- Regional transport law allows subsidies to be restricted to Madrid residents.
- Government publishes regulation requiring proof of registration for the transport pass.
- Regulation comes into force; Ayuso announces plans to negotiate agreements for students.
Ayuso pledges accords for students
Hours after the restriction took effect, regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso announced that her government will negotiate agreements with other autonomous communities so that university students not registered in Madrid can still obtain the subsidised young person's pass. "Del mismo modo que tenemos convenio con otras regiones, como por ejemplo Castilla-La Mancha, vamos a promover otros acuerdos con el resto de regiones para que, por ejemplo, los jóvenes universitarios y los demás estudiantes en Madrid puedan acogerse al abono joven y la subvención que conlleva," she said during a breakfast event. Existing agreements with parts of Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y León already allow residents of those areas to use the pass.
Opposition and Renfe push back
Más Madrid, the left-wing party in the regional assembly, filed a motion for the immediate repeal of the measure. Spokesperson Manuela Bergerot argued that it "va a hacer la vida más difícil" for students and workers who keep their official address elsewhere, and for "miles de personas migrantes" who cannot easily register. She said: "Ayuso no necesita a Vox para hacer la vida más difícil a las personas migrantes." Meanwhile, national rail operator Renfe issued a statement calling the restriction "injustificables" and "va en contra del objetivo de reducir el uso del coche." It added that the measure was not communicated or agreed with Renfe, even though its Cercanías services are included in the pass. Renfe demanded an urgent coordination meeting.
What comes next
The government says it will seek accords with multiple regions, but no timeline was given. Students who are not yet registered in Madrid will be without the subsidised pass until agreements are signed, which could take months. Migrant groups without registration remain excluded from the young person's pass entirely under the current rules.
