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Travelers at the start of the 9-euro ticket at the beginning of June at Berlin Central Station
Photo: Christoph Soeder / dpa
Because the federal government probably does not want to extend the popular 9-euro ticket, individual federal states are now going their own way: the Lower Saxony Ministry of Transport can now imagine a northern German model as the successor to the 9-euro ticket for local public transport.
This applies in the event that the federal government does not launch a Germany-wide follow-up offer for the campaign that expires at the end of August.
According to the Lower Saxony ministry, the federal government should enable the states to be able to offer a low-cost, nationwide ticket after the 9-euro ticket has expired.
However, Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) confirmed in the "Bild am Sonntag" that he saw no scope for such a project.
“The fuel discount and 9-euro ticket are expiring.
There will be no follow-up regulation," he told the newspaper.
However, he is open to increasing the distance allowance for employees.
"Everyone benefits from this, because that applies regardless of car, train or bicycle," argued Lindner.
Lindner had previously denied continuing this cheap ticket with reference to the debt brake.
The Lower Saxony Ministry of Transport said: "If a nationwide ticket cannot be implemented, the five northern German federal states could alternatively set something up." The idea has not yet been explained in more detail.
States require federal grants
Lower Saxony's Transport Minister Bernd Althusmann (CDU) said that a follow-up solution would only be possible with a significant increase in federal funds.
"It can't be that the federal government initiates the ticket, leaves the implementation to the states, celebrates its success and then doesn't want to take responsibility for a connection solution." Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) had previously made it clear that he sees the countries to move.
The last month of the 9-euro ticket begins on Monday, August 1st.
From June to August, bus and train drivers could and can use local and regional transport nationwide for 9 euros per month.
For the SPD parliamentary group deputy in the Bundestag, Detlef Müller, the current debate with a large number of suggestions shows that the federal and state governments should now get together promptly.
"In my opinion, a special conference of transport ministers should take place in August, at which the cushioning of the increased operating costs should also be taken into account." The further procedure and the division of the financing of possible successor models for the 9-euro should be discussed -Ticket, said Müller.
The transport companies had previously spoken out in favor of extending the popular, cheap and easy-to-use ticket.
It could contribute to relief in view of rising energy costs.
Long-distance bus companies, on the other hand, complained about a strong loss of passengers due to the ticket.
With a view to the mobility turnaround, the Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND) is campaigning for a 365-euro annual ticket.
The great demand for the 9-euro ticket proves that people are increasingly using trains and buses, especially if they don't have to fight their way through a jungle of tariffs and it's cheap.
»The turnaround in mobility can be continued with a direct follow-up offer that is affordable for everyone.
The government needs a quick and clear decision here without the usual traffic light hic-hack,” said BUND Managing Director Antje von Broock.
kig/dpa-AFX