29-euro ticket coming up?
The Greens and the Left are calling for a new model
Created: 07/12/2022 05:28
By: Felix Durach
The 9-euro ticket is a temporary model of success.
Suggestions on how public transport should remain affordable after August are now coming primarily from the Left and Greens.
Berlin – All of Germany is talking about the 9-euro ticket.
In order to relieve the population in the face of skyrocketing energy costs and high inflation rates, the traffic light coalition launched the 9-euro ticket for the summer.
In June, July and August, customers can use public transport and local trains throughout Germany for nine euros a month.
A real bargain compared to the normal train prices.
But the promotional ticket is limited in time.
How could things continue with the 9-euro ticket from September?
Even if the final evaluation is still pending, the campaign can already be described as a partial success.
This is proven, among other things, by a survey of ticket buyers, the results of which the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) published on Monday.
According to this, around 20 percent of those surveyed stated that they had almost never used public transport before.
According to a new survey, the 9-euro ticket attracts many people to buses and trains who previously never or only rarely used local public transport.
© Arne Dedert/dpa
9-euro ticket: a successful model with an expiry date – a Green Party politician proposes a connection concept
A successful model with an expiry date.
Because the offer ends on September 1st.
Commuters and travelers will then have to go back to the usual ticket offers.
However, the Greens in the Berlin House of Representatives are now making an initial proposal as to how consumers could be further relieved after the €9 ticker.
The transport politician Oda Hassepass pleaded in the
daily mirror
for the introduction of a 29-euro ticket from September.
The 48-year-old sees the current time as an ideal opportunity to further boost the turnaround in traffic.
"Letting this moment pass and not creating a connection concept for people would be a massive step backwards," said the Green politician.
29 euro ticket from September?
Green politician wants to use momentum
When it comes to financing the offer, Hassepass refers to the expected increase in the number of subscribers.
The assumption of the transport politician: If the number of nationwide passengers increased by 4.2 million people due to the price reduction, the railways and transport associations would not have to record any losses in fare income.
However, the increasing number of passengers would make the expansion of capacities even more urgent.
Hassepass relies on new cross-financing models.
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In the Berlin House of Representatives, the left had already spoken out in favor of introducing a 365-euro annual ticket before the 9-euro ticket.
This comes very close to the Greens' proposal.
The annual cost for a €29 ticket would be €348.
Left leader Wissler pleads in the Bundestag for the introduction of the 1-euro ticket from 2023
In the German Bundestag, the left recently ventured forward with a similar motion to extend the 9-euro ticket.
Party co-chair Janine Wissler initially called for an extension of the 9-euro offer until the end of the year in parliament.
After that, a new regulation is needed.
"In view of this success, any reasonable Minister of Transport would fight to ensure that it continues," said the 41-year-old in the direction of Minister of Transport Wissing.
The Left boss suggested the introduction of a 1-euro ticket for this - i.e. a day ticket for the price of one euro.
The proposal of the Federal Left is on the same level as the model of the Berlin Greens and Left.
In the medium term, Wissler even called for the free use of buses and trains in public transport.
The chairwoman of the left, Janine Wissler, spoke out in the Bundestag for the introduction of a 1-euro ticket from 2023.
© Fabian Sommer/dpa
Minister of Transport Wissing: 9-euro ticket reason for "structural change"
Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) described the 9-euro ticket to the
Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung
as a "brilliant success".
The 52-year-old also sees the campaign as a reason for a “structural change” in the future.
However, the transport minister did not say what this should look like.
However, the FDP politician rejected a permanent continuation of the 9-euro ticket.
“But it is also clear to everyone that the federal government cannot finance a monthly ticket for 9 euros in the long term.
That would be around ten billion euros a year," said the minister, adding: "I cannot anticipate the budget negotiations here."
Decision on the left initiative in the Bundestag postponed - criticism from the CDU
The Bundestag could at least not agree on a compromise on Friday.
The initiative of the left was transferred to the transport committee for the leading consultation.
Criticism of the application came primarily from the CDU.
CDU MP Michael Donth described the proposal as "a flat-rate ticket subsidy with the watering can instead of targeted relief for the socially disadvantaged".
(
fd with dpa
)
