In Thionville, the monthly Presto season ticket to Luxembourg will rise to 50,40 euros on 1 January 2027, an increase of 2,40 euros. From Nancy, it will reach 237,83 euros. Behind the announced 5% increase, the impact on the budget therefore depends on where the traveller sets off from.
The decision by the Grand Est region, reported by L’essentiel, concerns TER fares. For cross-border commuters, three things need to be distinguished: the new price of their ticket, the additional cost over time and the part of the journey that remains free in Luxembourg.
Four price points for passengers aged 26 and over
The published amounts are for the monthly Presto ticket for people aged 26 and over. They do not, therefore, cover every type of ticket sold on these routes.
| Departure point for Luxembourg | Monthly price announced for 2027 | Monthly increase | Increase over twelve monthly payments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nancy | 237,83 € | 11,33 € | 135,96 € |
| Metz | 111,20 € | 5,30 € | 63,60 € |
| Thionville | 50,40 € | 2,40 € | 28,80 € |
| Hettange-Grande | 32,76 € | 1,56 € | 18,72 € |
The final column is our calculation based on the monthly increases: twelve times the amount shown. It gives an indication for someone buying twelve monthly tickets. This is not the price of an annual season ticket: the calculation covers only twelve monthly purchases.
So the additional 2,40 euros from Thionville becomes 28,80 euros for twelve monthly purchases; Nancy’s 11,33 euros amounts to 135,96 euros on the same basis. This calculation makes it possible to compare the four situations over the same period, without turning a common rate into the same sum for everyone.
Why the same rate produces different increases
A percentage increase is applied to an initial fare. It is not a uniform additional flat fee. A more expensive season ticket can therefore rise by more in euros, even when the announced rate is the same.
The explanation given for these journeys also relates to the distance travelled on the French paid network. The departure point is therefore essential when making a comparison: a price announced for Nancy does not allow you to predict the price from another station.
The four price points cover real-life situations, but do not replace a full fare table. To find the amount that applies to them, travellers must compare the same origin, destination and ticket type, taking into account their age band and travel class.
The 10% figure mentioned is not the increase in season ticket prices
The Region cites expected increases in energy, fuel, maintenance and railway charges. According to its explanation, passing on the full costs forecast for 2027 would have required an overall fare increase of at least 10%.
This figure describes the scenario put forward by the regional authority to explain its decision. The announced increase in season ticket prices is 5%. The two percentages should therefore not be added together or applied one after the other to a traveller’s expenditure.
Single-journey tickets are also subject to an announced increase. However, the new prices for these tickets are not provided in the information reported. The season ticket rate is not enough to calculate the price of a single ticket.
Luxembourg’s free travel is a separate rule
Why pay to travel to a country where public transport is free? Because free travel on Luxembourg’s national services in second class does not automatically cover the journey made abroad. Mobiliteit points out that a cross-border ticket or season ticket is needed to cross this boundary.
Guichet.lu also specifies exceptions for three stations operated under the Luxembourg national system: Audun-le-Tiche, Athus and Volmerange-les-Mines. They should not be confused with the four departure points in the table.
The French decision therefore does not mean that national public transport in Luxembourg is becoming subject to fares. To plan their 2027 budget, travellers should refer to the fare for their cross-border journey and ticket type, rather than a rate applied indiscriminately to all their journeys.
Sources
L’essentiel — Train ticket and season ticket prices set to rise again
Mobiliteit — Cross-border tickets
Guichet.lu — Travel on public transport in Luxembourg
A TER Lorraine train at Jarville-la-Malgrange. Illustrative and archive photo.
Photo: Occitandu34 — Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0.
