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S-Bahn in Berlin
Photo: Rüdiger Wölk / imago images/Rüdiger Wölk
The consumer advice centers warn of price increases for buses and trains and are pushing for a follow-up offer for the 9-euro ticket in local transport.
“It is important that both are retained: an inexpensive and simple model and that you can drive it nationwide,” said the head of the Federal Association (vzbv), Ramona Pop.
In local transport, the special ticket, which runs until the end of the month, was “something like a revolution”.
"It would be a shame to disappoint the people here who have really used it extensively over the past few months."
Pop said: »There is a danger that after a summer in which you could use local public transport with a cheap, simple 9-euro ticket, there will be a setback in autumn: with drastic price increases due to higher energy prices.« That would be the exact opposite of relief and also of attracting more people to local transport.
Pop emphasized: »The expectation is that all transport companies will not continue to burden people in this difficult situation.
Of course, that also needs political backing to compensate for additional costs.«
The 9-euro tickets launched in June, which enable one-month trips on local transport throughout Germany, are still valid until the end of August.
A debate about connection offers has already broken out in order to further relieve passengers of increased energy costs and to give them incentives to switch from their cars.
There are suggestions for a 365-euro annual ticket and monthly tickets for 29, 49 or 69 euros.
Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) had made it clear that no funds were available for a successor solution.
He is not convinced of a "free mentality à la unconditional basic income" even in local public transport.
Pop said they saw that low-income people in particular could afford excursions or short vacations with the 9-euro ticket.
"From our point of view, this is participation and not a free mentality." The consumer centers propose a 29-euro ticket that should retain the "charm" of nationwide validity.
"Many people thought that was a good thing: that you can travel anywhere with it and don't have to navigate the thicket of tariffs of the different transport associations or regions."
The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) called for further steps.
»The 9-euro ticket was all well and good.
But it didn't lead to people leaving their cars en masse," said DGB boss Yasmin Fahimi.
She campaigned for the proposal of a mobility allowance from the first kilometer as a replacement for the commuter allowance.
This has the advantage that it is granted regardless of income and the chosen means of transport.
Consumer advocate Pop warned that the state-owned Deutsche Bahn should be more reliable for travelers.
"We're seeing delays and failures of an unprecedented magnitude." Passengers are currently paying the price that the railways have obviously not done their infrastructure tasks in recent years.
»If the travel times of trains are obviously simply being extended so that one does not appear to be unpunctual, that is tricking the timetable and not exactly expanding the rails.«
Pop demanded: »The railways have to do their homework.
I doubt whether that will happen quickly.« In order to achieve more reliable operation and less disruption to construction sites, Deutsche Bahn and Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing have announced a »general renovation« of the most important routes from 2024.
"I expect that in the future we will be able to set the clock by the train again," said the FDP politician, who had declared the network renovation a "top priority".
mike/dpa
