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Evaluation of mobile phone data: More train journeys with a 9

2022-08-11T09:32:55.656Z


The number of journeys in rail transport has increased significantly on longer routes since the introduction of the 9-euro ticket. It is particularly in demand in rural areas and travel areas that are popular with tourists.


Enlarge image

Local train at Stuttgart Central Station: general increase in travel

Photo: Arnulf Hettrich / IMAGO

Politicians are arguing about an extension or a follow-up solution for the 9-euro ticket.

However, the subsidized cheap ticket for nationwide local transport was well received by the population.

As a special evaluation by the Federal Statistical Office shows, the 9-euro ticket lured people onto the train.

According to this, the number of rail journeys of more than 30 kilometers was also significantly higher in the second month after the introduction of the cheap ticket than in the pre-crisis month of 2019. On average, there were 42 percent more rail journeys in July.

In June, too, the number of passengers was already well above the pre-corona level.

Tourist traffic on the road has not decreased

"These nationwide results indicate a general increase in travel," the agency said.

An increase in rail traffic was recorded, particularly in rural tourism regions.

Here, trips by train in June and July were on average 80 percent higher than in the comparable months of 2019. Nationwide, trips by road continued to be roughly at the level of the comparable period before the corona crisis.

According to the information, road traffic still accounts for the largest share of passenger transport.

A regional shift from road to rail traffic cannot be derived from the results, the authority explained.

The trips registered on the road include both car and bus trips.

The Federal Statistical Office evaluated anonymous and aggregated mobile phone data from the network of the mobile phone provider Telefónica.

According to the information, an assignment to different types of traffic is only possible for travel distances of 30 kilometers or more.

Whether the 9-euro ticket is also suitable for relieving the citizens of inflation in a targeted manner - and whether there should be a follow-up project is a matter of debate.

Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) rejects the financing of a follow-up model by the federal government.

He spoke of a "free mentality à la unconditional basic income" also in local public transport.

The Greens in particular are pushing for a new regulation for the ticket offer, which expires at the end of August.

apr/dpa

Source: spiegel

All business articles on 2022-08-11

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