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Volker Wissing with a 9-euro ticket: Sees capacity in the trains
Photo: Britta Pedersen / dpa
The first test after the start of the 9-euro ticket comes this weekend: Pentecost.
"At Pentecost, the trains are already well filled," said a spokesman for Deutsche Bahn.
In addition, the number of passengers has increased significantly again recently, even without special tickets.
Over Easter, the group even counted more travelers on the trains than Easter 2019 – before the crisis.
Despite the threatening crowds on popular tourist routes caused by the many travelers, Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing has already spoken of a successful start for cheap tickets.
The ticket is very well received.
"It's a success in the truest sense of the word, a blockbuster," said the FDP politician to the dpa news agency.
Seven million tickets were sold.
“That means people have taken it to their hearts.”
Passengers should consider what times they are traveling
In June, July and August, the heavily discounted tickets allow you to use all buses and trains in Germany's local public transport network for nine euros a month.
The federal government had initiated them in particular to relieve the citizens of the high inflation.
With a view to an expected larger rush on the upcoming Pentecost holidays, Wissing said: "If so many people are driving, there can be occasional high capacity utilization." One then simply has to say: "Everyone should be considerate of everyone.
You also have to think about what times you drive.«
Due to the corona pandemic, local public transport has lost 20 percent of its passengers.
"So we have room for improvement in terms of capacity at the moment and capacity utilization."
Transport associations responsible
According to Wissing, the transport associations would have to clarify how the rush on tourist routes could be managed.
Many would have said that they were fine with it.
The states wanted the ticket to be valid nationwide.
»I trust their expertise.«
With the campaign, local public transport is now on everyone's lips, said the minister.
“Many are now looking forward to this time.
(...) Above all, we want to set an incentive to save energy.
We want to win back more passengers for public transport.«
apr/dpa
