9-Euro-Ticket: One in four takes it - Positive effects on traffic and inflation

Created: 06/30/2022, 15:54

By: Lisa Mayerhofer

The balance sheet after a month's nine-euro ticket shows that the saver ticket is well received and reduces the risk of traffic jams and inflation, at least temporarily.

Berlin – The nine-euro ticket is apparently well received by Germans: According to the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), around 21 million of the special tickets were sold nationwide.

"Together with the approximately ten million subscribers who automatically receive the discounted ticket, the number of 30 million tickets per month previously calculated by the industry has not only been reached, but even slightly exceeded," said VDV President Ingo Wortmann .

The figures refer to June.

According to surveys by the VDV, people are said to have signaled a similarly high level of willingness to buy for July.

How long is the nine-euro ticket valid?

The ticket entitles buyers to travel throughout Germany for local transport in June, July and August for nine euros each.

The ticket is valid for one calendar month.

Subscribers can use their tickets like a nine-euro ticket and are reimbursed the difference for the three months.

Where do you buy the nine-euro ticket?

The nine-euro ticket can be purchased from Deutsche Bahn and local transport companies.

Specifically, you buy the saver ticket online via the respective website or app of the provider as well as at the ticket machines.

Nine-euro ticket and bicycle transport

Bicycle transport is not included in the nine-euro ticket.

The rules of the respective provider apply here – i.e. Deutsche Bahn or other transport companies.

If the trains are overcrowded, it may not be possible to guarantee that you can take your bike with you.

What are the consequences of introducing the nine-euro ticket?

The nine-euro ticket also has consequences for commuters: According to an analysis by the traffic data specialist Tomtom for the German Press Agency, there was measurably less traffic on the streets in June: According to this, in 23 of the 26 cities examined there was a decrease in the level of traffic jams compared to the current time recorded before introduction.

The data "suggests that this decline is related to the introduction of the 9-euro ticket," said Tomtom traffic expert Ralf-Peter Schäfer.

"Commuters lost less time driving to and from work in June than in May in almost all cities surveyed."

Together with the fuel discount, the nine-euro ticket has also curbed inflation somewhat.

According to an estimate by the Federal Statistical Office, consumer prices rose by 7.6 percent in June compared with the same month last year, after 7.9 percent in May.

However, experts do not see this as a trend reversal.

What will happen to the nine-euro ticket in autumn?

The German Association of Cities is also dealing with this question.

He asked the traffic light coalition to provide clarity for the period after the nine-euro ticket expires at the end of August.

"We need to know how things will continue after the summer," said Managing Director Helmut Dedy of the

on Thursday.

It's about whether you "make a traffic turnaround out of the hype or let it fizzle out".

“People want to use public transport more.

Now it has to come to the oath,” Dedy continued.

The cities, on the other hand, wanted to use the “tailwind” to invest in better cycles and modern vehicles.

“But for this we need the higher federal funds for local transport promised by the coalition.

And the countries have to go along with it.”

Without additional funds, many cities and transport companies would have to limit their public transport services or raise tariffs from autumn, Dedy warned.

"Then there is no offer offensive, but gaps in the timetables and disappointment among passengers."