The situation in the morning: Voices to the railway: "That's mega!"

The train and you

Yesterday I asked you about your railway experiences, the response was overwhelming: Your answers - printed out - already fill a large folder.

Thank you for your descriptions and your openness,

Today's morning situation has therefore become almost monothematic, the important topics and dates for today are summarized briefly and concisely at the end

So what can be said about the train and the first day with the nine-euro ticket?

With a few exceptions, the campaign started, shall we say, calmly.

Many reported in the morning that the trains were as full or as empty as ever, some sent photos showing empty seats.

There were initial breakdown reports of overcrowded trains, overwhelmed staff, significant delays and confusion about the validity of the ticket.

I'll let you speak for yourself, a collage of your impressions.

Please forgive me for only being able to consider a fraction of your letters.

»The 9-euro ticket is nothing but sensationalism.

(...) This does not solve the ecological problem.

(...) Red card for red-green because of lack of sustainability and lack of concept.«

"Splendid!

(...) We will mainly use public transport to do our shopping.

(...) Save the parking fees too.«

»Topic long-distance traffic: Could be good, but it's abysmal.

On the subject of local transport: even worse.«

"I couldn't take my connection from Crailsheim to Nuremberg because the train was overcrowded."

»With this experiment you can also see that people don't use public transport to save the world.

They do it when it is more practical, cheaper, faster than other offers.«

»My need for train journeys is covered for the time being and I will not buy a 9-euro ticket either.«

“If you will, this is a form of green patronage politics.

Now it's the turn of those who don't drive an SUV.«

»Tram RNV 5 Mannheim – Weinheim.

Driven at 4 p.m. with a group of 26 people.

It was a disaster.

And then a couple of heavyweight inspectors squeezed through.”

»According to the announcement, several cars were missing today and the train was supposedly full.

The alternative recommended is the next train in an hour.«

»With the 9-euro ticket, my family saves 140 euros per month on public transport alone, nice!«

»In the sunshine in the Regional Express observation car with WiFi was more pleasant than on the motorway.

We think it's great and are planning a regional train trip to the Baltic Sea via Dresden and Leipzig for July.«

“Hundreds of millions were invested in the rail infrastructure in our region, and operations were then handed over to DB.

The result is that many had to switch from the train to the car in order to get to work on time.«

»These days, old people are no longer in good hands on trains because there is a lack of comfort, time and staff.«

»So far only positive experiences.«

»On the route from Besigheim to Bietigheim I saw a totally overcrowded train like in Japan.

The doors wouldn't close."

“For the first time since the pandemic, no distances could be maintained.

(...) If I could, I would switch to the car now, although I am a committed train driver for various reasons.«

“Basically, some people can neither afford a car nor a train, and that is scandalous.”

»We have seven million new customers, one country discovered buses and trains, that's mega!«

»It would be better to invest sustainably in the railways and to offer long-term savings.«

“Why… not like public service broadcasting?

Every household pays X amount and then public transport is free for everyone.«

»If politicians want to create relief and bind people to public transport, then the structure for this must first be prepared or created.

Well thought, but my conclusion after the first day: very badly done.«

• The Germans and the nine-euro ticket: “Is this still free?” – “Reluctantly” 

What was?

The Chancellor gave a combative speech in the general debate in the Bundestag after well-placed attacks by opposition leader Friedrich Merz.

But former Chancellor Angela Merkel also spoke – when saying goodbye to DGB boss Reiner Hoffmann.

For the first time she also commented on the war in Ukraine.

She spoke of a "barbaric war of aggression."

Merkel will speak again soon, then with my highly esteemed SPIEGEL colleague Alexander Osang.

The event is sold out, but it will be broadcast live on Phoenix.

• Angela Merkel: What the former Chancellor said in her first major speech 

What's coming?

It's time for another

.

After a long time, the round is taking place again in presence for the first time.

In the afternoon, the country heads will then consult with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Among other things, it is about energy security, the reform of public broadcasting and, of course, corona policy.

The budget of various departments is still being discussed in the Bundestag.

And Frank-Walter Steinmeier keeps a promise: He meets with the social medicine doctor Gerhard Trabert, who also wanted to become Federal President, but was defeated by Steinmeier.

He had invited Trabert to the meeting at the federal assembly.

• Behind the scenes of the prime ministers' conference: one person plays "Candy Crush", another turns off the sound 

SPIEGEL Deep Dive: "Germany must finally show its strength!"

I would like to get you interested in one more event: In the SPIEGEL studio in Berlin,

speaks in "SPIEGEL Deep Dive" with outstanding historians, thinkers and diplomats about their respective standpoints on the Ukraine war.

As a subscriber, you can follow this interview exclusively in the live stream and also ask questions yourself.

Koelbl's first guest

is

.

The historian and political scientist is considered one of Germany's most important experts on Eastern Europe and says: "Germany must finally show its strength!" Moscow perceives Berlin's hesitancy as a weakness - and encourages Putin to escalate the war further.

You want to know how she came to the position that Germany can no longer leave the deterrent against Putin to others?

Or do you have any questions that you would like to ask Ms. Fix?

Interested parties write to: info@events.spiegel.de, subject: SPIEGEL Deep Dive Raffle.

If you are already a subscriber, you can register here. 

What happened in Ukraine

• Overview of the past hours:

  Rockets fell in the Lviv region - several people were injured.

  According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 243 children have been killed since the beginning of the war.

  And Annalena Baerbock says: »Ukraine must win«

• "Now one can really speak of a turning point for Ukraine":

  After the announcement of new German arms deliveries, the Ukrainian ambassador Andriy Melnyk was pleased.

  One hopes for more tanks

• Why Athens is bowing to pressure from Berlin:

  Greece is supplying armored personnel carriers to Ukraine and wants to receive more modern models from Germany in return.

  And – Athens hopes – more support from Berlin against Turkish provocations.

  How is that received in the country? 

• They aim at a single enemy - and destroy entire streets:

  the fire of the Russian artillery was apparently too strong: the Ukrainian army has largely given up the city of Sievjerodonetsk in the east.

  What does the gain in territory mean for Putin? 

• The end of the Eastern bloc:

  The dispute over the European oil embargo has made the differences between the eastern EU countries clear: the old partners Hungary and Poland, in particular, often have different opinions 

The latest news from the night

• The jury agrees with Johnny Depp – and a bit with Amber Heard:

  for six weeks, the ex-husbands fought a mud fight in front of a court in the United States.

  There were serious allegations in the defamation process.

  Now the jury has reached a verdict

• Shots in the hospital - apparently several people killed:

  In the city of Tulsa, a man shot around in a hospital.

  According to the current status, he killed four people.

  Investigators speak of a "catastrophic situation" on site

• Palace publishes official anniversary portrait of the Queen:

  A powder-blue coat, her hands in her lap, a pillow on her back: A new photo of Queen Elizabeth II appears on her 70th anniversary of the throne – she also addresses the people with grateful words

The SPIEGEL + recommendations for today

• "The last thing we need is the formation of camps in the world":

  Moscow and Beijing should not be equated, says Martin Brudermüller.

  He defends his company's investments in Xinjiang - and explains why BASF wants to stay in the region despite human rights violations 

• What would Willy Brandt do now?

  In 1972 the Eastern Treaties came into force.

  Here politician Gesine Schwan and historian Jan C. Behrends argue about how Brandt's policy of détente still has an impact today - and why the SPD finds it so difficult to distance itself from Russia 

• "He often had no scruples about being ruthless towards people":

  This year, too, the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau wants to award a "Bernhard Grzimek Prize" for nature conservation.

  Activists say: The former TV presenter is a bad ambassador for the topic 

• This is how you become more visible on the job:

  Your colleague gets more money, your colleague gets job offers from the competition – and you work hard and nobody cares?

  Why your career also depends on where you work 

I wish you a stress-free Thursday!

Yours, Martin Knobbe