Luxembourg is set to become the first country to abolish all public transport fares.

The Grand Duchy’s new coalition government has pledged to scrap tickets on all trains, buses and trams – a move which should come into effect by the summer of 2019.

Luxembourg has long taken a progressive approach to public transport. As it stands fares are capped at €2 for up to two hours of travel – for a country the size of Oxfordshire, this covers just about every journey. It’s an extra €1 to upgrade to first class, while an all-day second-class transport ticket on any form of transport costs €4.

As of this summer, anyone under the age of 20 can travel free in Luxembourg, while an annual “mPass” for commuters costs just €150 for all public transport.

By comparison, a two-hour peak time trip from London to Manchester in standard class costs £120. Many season tickets in the UK exceed £5,000, with rail fares set to increase by 3.2 per cent in 2019 – a move which RMT Union chief Mike Cash described as "another kick in the teeth for passengers".

The travel cost in London is the most expensive in the world, with a monthly travelcard costing £131 (Zones 1–2) up to £340 (Zones 1–9).