Brussels Joins Romania, UK and Poland in Some New Extravagant New Year Deals That You Can’t Think of

Published on December 9, 2025

New Year travel in 2025 offers a mosaic of official discounts and free services across Poland, the United Kingdom, Romania, and Brussels. Key highlights include free all-day bus travel in England’s West Midlands and free all-night trams in Edinburgh, both aimed at reducing congestion and supporting festive celebrations. Brussels provides fare-free metro, tram, and bus services from midnight on New Year’s Eve to early morning, while London suspends its congestion charge over the holiday period

United Kingdom: free transport initiatives for New Year’s Day

In 2025 the United Kingdom will see a range of official transport promotions designed to make New Year travel more affordable. These initiatives, most of which are publicly funded, focus on buses, trams and road tolls.

• West Midlands free buses on New Year’s Day – In England’s West Midlands region a major New Year offer will allow travellers to board buses free of charge on 1 January 2025. The mayor of the West Midlands introduced the scheme after a successful pre‑Christmas trial. All bus services operated by participating companies will be free from around 7 a.m. on New Year’s Day until 2:59 a.m. the following day, with most services running an amended Sunday timetable[1]. Passengers can simply board without a ticket; bus drivers will record boardings but no fares will be collected[2]. The free travel aims to encourage residents to leave their cars at home and is funded through a regional bus improvement programme[3]. Transport operators expect buses to be busy but have arranged extra support to manage demand[4].
• Region‑wide participation – The free travel scheme is a collaboration between local operators and the regional transport authority. Every bus company in the West Midlands Bus Service Improvement Plan is participating, which means the offer applies across Birmingham, Coventry and surrounding towns. Information on routes and timetables is available via local transport websites, and passengers are advised to plan ahead because some services may end early in the evening[5]. The initiative is part of a £20 million programme aimed at shifting travel habits and is described as one of the largest free‑travel events in England[3].
• Edinburgh’s free trams for Hogmanay – Travellers celebrating Hogmanay in Scotland’s capital can use the tram network at no cost overnight. Edinburgh Trams will operate free all‑night services on 31 December 2024 into the early hours of New Year’s Day 2025. Trams will run roughly every ten minutes from noon on New Year’s Eve until 2 a.m., then continue at regular intervals throughout the night[6]. Parking at the Ingliston Park & Ride with about one thousand spaces will also be free, allowing visitors to leave their vehicles and ride the tram into the city centre[6]. The offer encourages festival‑goers to travel safely and reduces congestion during the Hogmanay celebrations.
• London’s Congestion Charge holiday – In London, motorists who would normally pay to drive in the city centre will benefit from a waiver of the Congestion Charge across the festive period. Official guidance for the 2025/26 festive season states that the charge will not operate from Christmas Day through to 1 January[7]. As a result, drivers entering the charging zone on New Year’s Day 2025 will not need to pay the daily fee. However, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) suspension applies only on Christmas Day, so normal emissions charges resume on New Year’s Day[7]. This measure encourages visitors and shoppers to travel into central London during the holiday week without incurring additional charges.

Brussels: free public transport and special services

The City of Brussels organises an official fireworks celebration at the Atomium on New Year’s Eve. To ensure people can attend safely and avoid driving, the city collaborates with the Brussels public transport operator to provide fare‑free travel.

• Free STIB network overnight – The municipal website for the 2025 event explains that the entire STIB network (metro, tram and bus) will be free for travellers from midnight until the start of service on Wednesday 1 January[8]. This means that after the fireworks, attendees can return home without paying for tickets. The Atomium site is easily accessible by metro lines (line 6 to Heysel or Houba‑Brugmann), trams (lines 51 and 93) and several bus routes[9]. Extra trams and metro services will depart the Heysel area between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. on New Year’s morning[10].
• Security and accessibility – Access to the Atomium site opens at 9 p.m. and includes security checks. Visitors are advised not to bring large bags or glass items. Pedestrian access is via specific avenues near the site, and special arrangements are in place for people with reduced mobility, including a designated area and recommended station[11]. The city also provides free bicycle parking at the nearby King Baudouin Stadium[12]. These measures ensure that the free transport offer is part of a broader plan to manage crowds and promote sustainable mobility.

Poland: discounted rail travel for families and groups

While Poland does not offer a one‑day free travel event for New Year’s Day, the national rail operator PKP Intercity runs several year‑round discounts that can significantly reduce the cost of travelling around the New Year holiday. These offers are enshrined in regulations and remain valid throughout 2025.

• Family Ticket (Bilet Rodzinny) – PKP Intercity’s Family Ticket offers a 30 % discount on standard fares for groups of two to five people travelling together, provided at least one member of the group is under 16 years old. The discount applies to domestic services on Express InterCity Premium (EIP), Express InterCity (EIC), InterCity (IC) and Twoje Linie Kolejowe (TLK) trains[13]. Children under four travel free if they do not occupy a separate seat. The Family Ticket cannot be combined with other promotional offers but may be combined with statutory concessions such as reduced fares for large families. Travellers can purchase the tickets online or at stations, making it a practical way for families to save money during holiday trips.
• Big Family Card discount (Karta Dużej Rodziny) – Families who hold the Polish Big Family Card are entitled to a 30 % discount on PKP Intercity tickets in any class[14]. The offer applies to at least two family members travelling together; children under four travel free. The discount may be combined with statutory concessions and is valid on all PKP Intercity trains[14]. Because the Big Family Card is a government‑issued benefit, this discount is considered an official policy and is available throughout 2025.
• Taniej z Bliskimi (Cheaper with Relatives) – Another official discount encourages small groups to travel together. It grants a 30 % reduction on base fares for groups of two to six passengers who purchase tickets 30 to one days before departure[15]. The reduced price can be combined with statutory concessions[16]. This offer applies to domestic journeys on PKP Intercity trains and is particularly useful for friends or extended families planning their New Year trips in advance.

These year‑round rail discounts provide Polish residents and visitors with structured ways to save on travel during the holiday. Because they are established in official regulations, they remain valid on New Year’s Day and throughout 2025.

Romania: official rail discounts for students and international travellers

Romania’s state‑owned rail operator CFR Călători offers several substantial fare reductions that make train travel more affordable during the New Year period and across 2025. These discounts are government‑mandated and target students and international pass holders.

• 90 % student discount for domestic travel – The rail company grants Romanian and foreign students up to 30 years old a 90 % discount on second‑class fares for journeys between their place of residence and their university[17]. The reduction applies to single tickets and season tickets for Regio, InterRegio and InterCity services and remains valid through November 30 2025, provided students present a 2024–2025 university ID[18]. After December 1 2025, the same discount continues for students holding a 2025–2026 ID, ensuring that the benefit extends into the following academic year. Orphans and students from foster care receive the same discount even if they exceed 30 years of age[17].
• 50 % discount for Romanian students abroad – Starting October 1 2025, Romanian students enrolled in foreign universities receive a 50 % reduction on second‑class train tickets for any distance[19]. To obtain the discount, students must present documentation proving enrolment in a foreign institution, along with identification. The discount does not apply to first‑class or sleeping‑car supplements, but travellers can pay the difference if they wish to upgrade[19]. This new policy helps young Romanians studying abroad return home affordably during holiday periods such as New Year.
• Advance purchase and Interrail promotions – CFR Călători also offers discounts to passengers who plan ahead. Tickets bought 11 days or more before departure receive a 10 % discount, while tickets purchased six to ten days in advance get a 5 % discount[20]. In addition, from November 25 to December 17 2025, travellers purchasing Interrail Global or One Country passes from CFR Călători will receive a 25 % discount[21]. These promotions encourage early planning and make rail travel more accessible during the holiday season.

Conclusion

New Year 2025 brings a mosaic of official travel deals across Poland, the United Kingdom, Romania and Brussels. Travellers in the West Midlands can ride buses free of charge on New Year’s Day, while Edinburgh offers free all‑night trams to help revellers return home safely. London motorists benefit from a temporary suspension of the Congestion Charge, and the City of Brussels provides free metro, tram and bus services overnight so that residents and visitors can enjoy the fireworks without worrying about fares. Although Poland does not offer a one‑day free‑travel event, the national rail operator’s family and group discounts remain in force throughout 2025, allowing households to save money on holiday journeys. In Romania, generous student discounts and advance‑purchase promotions ensure that young people and early planners can travel affordably on the national rail network. Together, these official and government‑verified initiatives illustrate how public authorities across Europe are making New Year travel in 2025 more accessible and affordable.

References

1. Evidence for the West Midlands free bus offer and commentary on its aims[1][2].
2. Details of the regional bus scheme’s funding and Sunday timetable[3].
3. Free bus travel rules, ticketless boarding and passenger advice[22].
4. Edinburgh Trams’ announcement of free all‑night tram services and free Park & Ride[6].
5. Transport for London statement on the Congestion Charge suspension during the holiday[7].
6. City of Brussels guidance for New Year’s Eve fireworks and free STIB network[23].
7. PKP Intercity Family Ticket discount and conditions[13].
8. PKP Intercity Big Family Card discount and applicability[14].
9. PKP Intercity Taniej z Bliskimi group discount details[15][16].
10. CFR Călători student discount provisions and validity[17][18].
11. CFR Călători discount for Romanian students abroad[19].
12. Advanced purchase discounts and Interrail promotional offer[20][21].