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9-euro ticket: countries threaten blockade – “Who orders must also pay”

2022-05-19T02:57:50.271Z


9-euro ticket: countries threaten blockade – “Who orders must also pay” Created: 05/19/2022, 04:50 By: Johannes Nuß, Mark Stoffers The cheap nine-euro ticket should come on June 1, 2022. But countries are threatening a boycott in the Bundesrat because of the costs. Update from May 15, 2022: Munich – Travel by bus and train through Germany for three months for only nine euros. An idea from the


9-euro ticket: countries threaten blockade – “Who orders must also pay”

Created: 05/19/2022, 04:50

By: Johannes Nuß, Mark Stoffers

The cheap nine-euro ticket should come on June 1, 2022.

But countries are threatening a boycott in the Bundesrat because of the costs.

Update from May 15, 2022:

Munich – Travel by bus and train through Germany for three months for only nine euros.

An idea from the federal government to relieve consumers, which sounds excellent at first.

But countries like Bavaria and Lower Saxony are not very enthusiastic about the idea.

They have feared for weeks that the costs of the 9-euro ticket from the relief package will remain on their shoulders.

This fact has caused resentment between the federal and state governments for weeks.

And now, before the week of voting, Bavaria is also speaking up with a clear demand.

9-euro monthly ticket: Bavaria threatens blockade in the Bundesrat – “greatly deceived”

According to this, Bavaria in the Bundesrat is threatening to block the upcoming vote on the 9-euro monthly ticket.

"If the federal government believes that it can be applauded on the back of the federal states for a three-month consolation and that others should pay the bill, then it has been hugely mistaken," said Bavaria's Minister of Transport Christian Bernreiter (CSU) of the

German Press Agency

in Munich.

The federal states fear being left with the cost of the 9-euro ticket.

There is clear criticism from Bavaria for the "flash in the pan" offered by the federal government.

© Daniel Karmann |

dpa

If the federal government does not fully compensate for the costs of the ticket and does not significantly increase the regionalization funds, as promised in the coalition agreement, it will run into a wall in the Bundesrat.

9-euro ticket from the relief package: criticism from Bavaria – the federal government offers a “flash in the pan”

"Under the current conditions, I don't see Bavaria being able to approve the law in the Bundesrat.

A real relief for the citizens would be a permanent strengthening of local public transport through more federal funds for a better offer," emphasized the CSU politician.

Instead, the federal government offers "a flash in the pan", at the end of which there is a risk of significant performance restrictions in view of the permanent problems, such as the high fuel prices.

"Anyone who lets the countries, without which the implementation would not work, run up in the negotiations shouldn't be surprised if nothing comes of it in the end." Meanwhile, the transport associations are preparing for the rush and are already planning advance sales of the 9 euro -Tickets before June 1st.

Some transport associations are already pointing out the 9-euro advance ticket sale to their potential passengers.

9-euro ticket: countries threaten to boycott – “Who orders must also pay”

First report from April 24, 2022:

Berlin – The 9-euro ticket for bus and train, which should be part of the 2022 relief package, is taking on more and more concrete forms – but only actually.

Because while there seems to be agreement on a large part of the framework conditions to relieve consumers, apart from the planned start date in June and the fact that commuters, travelers and students should benefit from the cheap nine-euro monthly ticket, there are stirrings in politics there was clear resistance in the federal states before the first sounding out of the draft on April 27th.

There is even talk of a boycott from the federal states.

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Harsh criticism comes mainly from Saxony, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

The Saxon Transport Minister asked the federal government to fully cover the costs for the 9-euro ticket.

"Now the Federal Ministry of Transport is trying to pass some of these costs on to the federal states and to offset them against the public transport Corona rescue package," said Martin Dulig, according to a statement.

"But if you order, you have to pay," the SPD politician continued in Dresden.

9-euro ticket for bus and train: federal states are threatening a boycott in the Bundesrat – what applies to the nine-euro monthly ticket and for whom?

But back to the beginning: Originally, the federal and state governments had probably agreed on the framework for the 9-euro ticket for bus and train in Germany, especially when, where and for whom the 9-euro ticket should be valid on the bus and train and how it works.

Because it was certain that the inexpensive nine-euro monthly ticket could be used nationwide and that it would cost nine euros for a month.

In addition, a possible date for the start and the duration had already been envisaged: The 9-euro ticket for public transport should come into effect for three months from June 1, 2022, in order to then be used with local bus and train transport across the city Republic to gondola.

The start would therefore have coincided with the planned tank discount for diesel and petrol and the energy price flat rate of 300 euros from the 2022 relief package.

Inexpensive 9-euro ticket for bus and train: dispute over financing – federal states are threatening a boycott in the Bundesrat

The framework conditions for the cheap 9-euro ticket for bus and train seemed to be pretty solid and the financing for the cheap nine-euro monthly ticket in public transport should have been on secure pillars.

But the subjunctive is the crucial point at this point in the 2022 relief package.

Because now the federal and state governments are arguing about the financing, as the business insider reports in its German online edition.

Some federal states are said to have threatened to let the cheap nine-euro ticket for bus and train fail in the Federal Council.

Actually, everything seemed to have been clarified for the cheap nine-euro ticket for bus and train from the 2022 relief package.

Now there is a dispute over funding.

(kreiszeitung.de assembly) © Sina Schuldt/Christoph Soeder/dpa

Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) had actually announced before Easter that the key issues had been clarified and the 9-euro ticket could come on June 1, 2022, just like the energy flat-rate of 300 euros or the tank discount as a fuel price brake for petrol and Diesel.

But now there is stress about the financing, because the federal government suddenly no longer wants to know anything about the promised 4.2 billion euros for the federal states.

Instead, the federal states should only receive 3.7 billion euros from federal funds.

Nine-euro ticket for local transport: dispute over financing – the federal government only wants to pay 3.7 billion instead of 4.2 billion euros

For many, that seems too little to do justice to the expected onslaught of citizens in Germany.

After all, the federal states are to receive around half a billion euros less than originally promised, which triggers a dispute over the financing of the cheap monthly ticket for nine euros.

According to the

dpa

, the states are demanding that the federal government put a total of 5.6 billion euros on the table to support and strengthen public transport.

This also includes the costs for the planned 9-euro monthly ticket for three months.

Around 1.7 billion euros were to be withdrawn for the Corona rescue package for local public transport, plus an estimated 2.5 billion euros for the direct costs of the cheap nine-euro monthly ticket.

That is the result of a meeting between Wissing and Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) in the middle of this week.

9-euro ticket from the 2022 relief package: bad mood among the heads of government of the federal states

The mood in the federal states is correspondingly bad, reports the business insider in connection with the 9-euro ticket from the 2022 relief package and quotes Baden-Württemberg's Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Greens) with the words: "The last word is on this bill not spoken yet.

We countries see a considerable need for improvement.” A meeting of state ministers is now to clarify how to react to this.

In the end, there could be a joint declaration, after all, the federal government had originally promised to cover the entire cost of the cheap 9-euro ticket for bus and train.

Because, in the meantime, it is also clear that due to the increased energy prices, the sum of 3.7 billion euros will probably not be sufficient to finance the 9-euro ticket.

But it seems rather unlikely that Berlin will top it up again, let alone give in to the demands of the federal states for an additional 1.6 billion euros.

According to the Business Insider report, this is too high.

Saxony's transport minister attacks the federal government on the 9-euro ticket: "Whoever orders must also pay"

Saxony's Minister of Transport, Martin Dulig, is particularly harsh on the planned implementation and financing of the 9-euro ticket.

The SPD politician called on the federal government to fully cover the costs for the cheap monthly ticket.

"The announcement by the federal government was clear: 9 euros each for three months - the federal government wanted to take over the costs in full," Saxony's Minister of Transport sets the course for Attack.

"Now the Federal Ministry of Transport is trying to pass some of these costs on to the federal states and to offset them against the public transport Corona rescue package," he continued to criticize in the statement.

"But those who order must also pay." Without the promised adequate financing, the introduction of the 9-euro ticket will not work.

Criticism of the financing of the 9-euro ticket from Saxony's transport minister

The offsetting with the public transport rescue package now planned by the Federal Ministry of Transport would mean a significant additional burden for all federal states, emphasized Dulig.

Accordingly, there should only be 1.2 billion euros for the public transport rescue package, which is 400 million euros less than promised.

In addition, the promised compensation for war-related additional costs, inflationary effects and performance adjustments should be completely ignored.

This would mean a further 1.5 billion euros in additional costs for the federal states.

The countries are not in a position to compensate for these unplanned new burdens, it said.

9-euro monthly ticket for public transport: charge the costs to the federal states, municipalities and transport companies

So the disappointment in the federal states is great, not only in Baden-Württemberg or Saxony.

As Bavaria's Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU) said, the federal government's actions are trying to offload the costs for the 9-euro monthly ticket for public transport to the states, municipalities and transport companies.

"If, as expected, many people want to use the ticket and additional trains and buses have to be provided for this, the federal government does not want to raise the money for it," Bernreiter told Business Insider.

However, according to information from the business insider in Berlin, this argument is not simply accepted, even if Bernreiter could be right.

In political Berlin, it is simply assumed that no additional buses and trains can be used.

The reason for this is that fixed contracts with transport conditions and fixed capacities are usually concluded with transport companies.

More buses and trains cannot be organized quickly, according to the report, citing the environment of the Federal Ministry of Transport.

One could insinuate cynicism.

Zoff about the 9-euro ticket: federal states could let the cheap nine-euro monthly ticket fail

The whole trouble could now culminate in the states letting the cheap nine-euro ticket for bus and train fail in the Bundesrat.

It could be as far as May after the consultation in the Bundestag.

Before that, however, the federal cabinet wants to deal with the draft law for the first time on April 27, 2022.

Nine-euro ticket: Pro-Bahn spokesman fears full trains and is expanding for long-distance commuters in the room

Meanwhile, the pro-Bahn spokesman Karl-Peter Naumann is particularly concerned with a problem that has already been mentioned.

"We expect overcrowded trains on routes popular with tourists," said Naumann about the 9-euro ticket from the 

Rheinische Post

.

"More trains have to be ordered for this," demands Naumann.

Even if the Pro-Bahn spokesman basically gives the 9 euro ticket a positive certificate and interprets it as a step in the right direction of travel.

Nevertheless, Naumann also sees a certain need for improvement and points out that, in his opinion, it would be even better if it did not only apply to regional transport.

Long-distance commuters got nothing, although they too suffered massively from the high fuel costs, he explained.

The railway works council warns that the cheap 9-euro monthly ticket will overburden it – “chaos could break out”

Deutsche Bahn employees are now demanding additional staff to cope with an expected rush of passengers with the planned discounted 9-euro monthly ticket.

"We welcome the 9-euro ticket, but fear it will be overloaded, especially in the holiday regions," said Ralf Damde, Vice-Chairman of the General Works Council DB Regio, in an interview with the editorial network Germany.

In order to avoid delays due to overcrowded trains, additional staff are needed at the stations of tourist hotspots.

The Pro Bahn passenger association had also warned of overcrowded trains on classic holiday routes because of the planned cheap ticket.

“We are also calling for additional security forces to be able to clear crowded trains and platforms if necessary.

Otherwise chaos could break out,” Damde underscored his warning about the overload caused by the cheap 9-euro ticket.

In addition, it must be clarified nationwide whether the ticket entitles you to take bicycles with you.

Inexpensive 9-euro monthly ticket: Bahn prepares for the onslaught

According to Damde, most of the expected additional passengers will have to make do with the existing range of trains and buses.

“DB Regio alone will be making 40 to 50 additional double-deck coaches operational.

But there are not many more reserves.”

9-euro ticket: Fears of drastic price increases are circulating

Baden-Württemberg's Minister of Transport also spoke in another connection with the 9-euro ticket.

Hermann fears a drastic price increase after the 90 days of the cheap nine-euro monthly ticket.

“The federal states and their associations will do everything they can to implement the 9-euro ticket despite all the difficulties.

However, it must be avoided at all costs that the tariffs then shoot up," Hermann

said to the

dpa .

Therefore, a "public transport strengthening package" must now be agreed, which will also help the financially troubled associations and companies, especially the small and medium-sized companies, in the medium term.

Otherwise there is a risk of “market exits” and possible cancellations of offers.

"That would be fatal for climate protection," Hermann continued.

Sale of the 9-euro ticket: the association wants its own platform – a cheap monthly ticket should be available on buses in the country

In the meantime, however, the question of how the 9-euro monthly ticket is to be sold seems to have been clarified.

So there should be a special sales platform of the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) for the 9-euro ticket.

The service for selling the monthly ticket is intended in particular for small transport companies in the association, which represents around 630 companies.

Other transport companies, such as the public transport operator in Munich or Berlin, will probably sell the cheap nine-euro ticket on their own platforms.

In rural areas, the 9-euro ticket should also be available from the bus driver, which is not unimportant if the residents of rural regions such as Lower Saxony, Bremen or Bavaria are to benefit from the 9-euro ticket.

After all, there was a great outcry that long-distance commuters could be left behind with the 9-euro ticket, as well as pensioners, who generally received almost nothing from the 2022 relief package.

Timetable for the 9-euro ticket: dates, hurdles and decisions before the start of the nine-euro monthly ticket on June 1, 2021

  • Inexpensive 9-euro ticket: timetable for the 9-euro monthly ticket for 90 days – important dates and decisions

  • On April 27 there will be initial consultations on the draft before the 9-euro ticket is to be decided in the Bundestag and Bundesrat.

  • The Bundestag and Bundesrat should agree to the necessary changes to the law on May 19th and 20th, 2022, so that nothing stands in the way of the start date for the 9-euro ticket from June 1st.



    The cheap monthly ticket for nine euros should be valid nationwide.

    However, this circumstance could lead to enormous loss of income at Deutsche Bahn.

    There is a fear that customers will decide against the ICE even on longer routes because of the 9-euro ticket for the regional trains.

  • The discount should also apply to job tickets, ABO customers and student semester tickets.

    The cheap ticket should not only be booked online, as recommended by Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP), but also via ticket machines, in buses in the country and in the service center.

Student ticket: Students want to use the cheap 9-euro ticket in the 2022 winter semester

The question of how students can use the cheap nine-euro ticket for bus and train should also be solved.

Because most of the students in Germany have already paid for the semester ticket for the summer semester and that is why the student representatives would like the 9-euro ticket for students to come later in the winter semester, i.e. from October 2022. It seems that the next step is still open whether bicycles can also be transported on trains with the cheap 9-euro ticket from the relief package 2022, from which Hartz IV recipients should also benefit with a subsidy for Hartz IV, or whether an extra ticket has to be purchased for them.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-05-19

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