What you need to know about the 9-euro monthly ticket
Created: 05/19/2022, 10:32 am
In Stuttgart and Freiburg it has been possible to buy 9-euro tickets for a few days - thousands of customers have already bought them.
© Marijan Murat/dpa
For 9 euros a month you can get on the bus and train anywhere in the republic - this should be possible from June 1st.
Where will the ticket be bought?
Which trains does it apply to?
Questions and answers.
Berlin - Local public transport has probably never been so cheap in Germany: With special 9-euro monthly tickets, millions of people should be able to get on buses and trains anywhere in the republic in June, July and August.
With the controversial special campaign, the traffic light coalition also wants to relieve non-drivers of the high energy costs.
At the same time, it is a price experiment that should generally attract more passengers.
It will be a major operation for the transport company to cope with the expected rush in such a way that the hoped-for charm offensive does not lead to frustration.
Popular holiday regions like Sylt fear a tourist rush.
But first the Bundestag and Bundesrat still have to seal the financing.
From when should the 9-euro ticket be valid?
The ticket should be valid from June 1st - and then in June, July and August for the calendar month.
Sliding four-week periods, for example from mid-July to mid-August, are not possible.
The price of 9 euros applies per month.
Holders can use it to travel nationwide on all buses, trams, subways, suburban trains and local and regional trains - regardless of whether they are operated by Deutsche Bahn or other providers.
Long-distance transport with ICE, Intercity and Eurocity, the green Flix trains and long-distance buses cannot be used.
In addition, the ticket is only valid for 2nd class.
Where can the ticket be bought?
In order for things to get started, the financing law still has to be passed: this Thursday by the Bundestag and then finally on Friday in the Bundesrat.
Among other things, the federal government wants to transfer 2.5 billion euros to the states to compensate for loss of income due to the ticket.
Once the political course has been set, things should happen quickly.
The train and many transport associations have already announced the start of sales for Monday.
The ticket should be available from machines, ticket counters or online from the transport company.
The industry is also planning a joint Internet sales platform.
The 9-euro tickets will not only be available in sales outlets, from vending machines and online from the individual transport providers - a joint Internet sales platform for the industry is also planned.
© Roland Weihrauch/dpa
Not everyone is waiting.
In Stuttgart and Freiburg it has been possible to buy 9-euro tickets for a few days - thousands of customers have already bought them.
What are the conditions?
The ticket costs a flat rate of 9 euros for any number of journeys in the calendar month.
Tickets should also be available for all three months at once, according to Deutsche Bahn.
There is no Bahncard discount on the 9 euros.
If you already have a monthly or annual subscription, you should only be charged 9 euros for the three months.
The subscribers receive a message from their provider or the transport association as to what the billing looks like: a reduction in direct debit or a refund of the difference.
Such rules should also apply to semester or job tickets.
Can you take your bike with you for free?
If an existing subscription provides for it: yes - but only in the respective subscription area, as explained by the Federal Ministry of Transport.
In general, a bicycle ticket must otherwise be booked.
As a precaution, the railways sent a warning ahead that taking bicycles was not guaranteed because the trains were expected to be full.
Better to avoid it on public holidays.
Can you reserve seats?
no
Reservation options are usually only available for long-distance transport.
However, the 9-euro ticket is valid for local transport.
Are there overcrowded buses and trains?
Public transport has not yet been a niche offer.
Last year alone, more than three million passengers traveled in almost 22,000 regional trains on the state-owned railway alone.
In the mornings and evenings during rush hour, there is quite a crowd on many lines in metropolitan areas - on summer weekends, regional trains to the countryside are generally full.
The cheap tickets now fall in the holiday season, when school children and commuters sometimes do not travel at all.
But some could use the ticket for excursions and vacation trips.
How big is the rush?
Nobody knows for sure.
According to the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), around 30 million users of the 9-euro ticket per month can be expected.
But this is only an estimate.
Politicians and the industry are counting on the fact that the spectacular campaign will now get many people to really think about when and how buses and trains actually run in the area.
more on the subject
9-euro ticket: consumer centers for improvements
Opportunities and risks of the 9-euro ticket
Bahn announces the start of sales for a 9-euro ticket
It is also uncertain how simultaneous financial relief at filling stations will affect drivers' willingness to switch.
Because also from June 1st to August 31st, according to the plans of the coalition, the energy tax is to be reduced to the minimum specified under EU law.
The tax rate for petrol is to be reduced by almost 30 cents and by 14 cents for diesel.
Will more or longer trains be running from June 1st?
The industry wants to put everything that rolls on rails and roads.
Ordering extra vehicles and drivers on a large scale in one fell swoop and for a limited period of three months is not possible.
Reserves are to be activated, "but they are not available on a significant scale", explained the association of transport companies.
According to the works council, the railway is making 40 to 50 additional double-decker cars operational, and there is not much more to it.
More effort is likely to arise, for example, with cleaning and service.
Why isn't the ticket free right away?
This proposal had actually been made by the federal states.
Simply doing without tickets - and thus also controls - would have significantly reduced the effort, was one argument.
One reason that a small amount of money is now being asked for is also to look beyond the end of the campaign.
The use of paying customers can be better analyzed.
Surveys are planned.
Who uses buses and trains on which routes when it is significantly cheaper?
This is an exciting question for transport companies and politicians - even if it is unlikely to stay at 9 euros per month.
