After a 9-euro ticket: Transport companies require a 69-euro ticket
Created: 07/15/2022 13:36
By: Lisa Mayerhofer
The nine-euro ticket is well received – but that will end in September.
The Association of Transport Companies (VDV) is now demanding a connection solution for 69 euros per month.
Berlin – Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) rated the nine-euro ticket as a “brilliant success” in the
Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung
.
It is the “best idea for rail transport in a very long time”.
According to the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), around 21 million special tickets were sold nationwide as of the end of June.
In addition, there are 10 million subscribers who automatically receive the discounted ticket.
After 9-euro ticket: Transport companies suggest 69-euro ticket
But September is the end of the cheap offer from the relief package of the traffic light coalition.
Providers, associations, politicians and consumers are now discussing what a possible connection solution to the nine-euro ticket could look like.
The transport companies have now proposed their idea: a 69-euro monthly ticket for public transport throughout Germany.
Because: There should continue to be a uniform flat rate for local public transport in Germany, explained the VDV about its idea of a so-called climate ticket.
In the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
, VDV Managing Director Oliver Wolff called for
speedy clarification.
"That has to be decided quickly, we can't wait until autumn," he said.
His association estimates the cost of the 69-euro ticket he is proposing to be around two billion euros a year.
For financing, Wolff in the
FAZ
brought up the idea of another state special fund, such as for the German armed forces.
Debate about 29-euro ticket, 75-euro ticket or 365-euro annual ticket
A debate has been going on for weeks about a possible extension of the offer or a cheaper successor arrangement.
There are different suggestions for this.
The Federal Association of Consumer Centers recently advertised a 29-euro ticket to relieve households burdened by rising prices and to promote the planned turnaround in traffic away from car traffic.
The 9 euro ticket has encouraged many people to use public transport.
The industry wants to build on this and is demanding a 69-euro ticket.
(Archive image) © Christoph Soeder/dpa
There are other similar ideas, such as a 365-euro annual ticket from Linken und Sozialverband Deutschland.
The Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) introduced a 75-euro ticket that is valid for one month for certain cross-border tariff areas.
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) recently repeatedly spoke out in favor of a permanent nationwide local transport ticket that replaces the previous regional tariff zones.
However, the Minister of Transport left open whether the federal government could give the federal states money on a permanent basis.
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Greens signal support for offers such as the 69-euro ticket
Federal leader of the Greens, Ricarda Lang, signaled support for a successor regulation such as the 69-euro ticket now proposed by the VDV.
"We will discuss the model in the coalition, but one thing is clear: a follow-up regulation is needed, which, as proposed by the Federal Minister of Transport, applies as uniformly as possible nationwide and is cheap, i.e. also social," she told the
FAZ
.
However, the government must achieve two goals at the same time: it wants to offer cheap tickets and at the same time invest in the infrastructure.
SPD deputy parliamentary group leader Detlef Müller called on Federal Transport Minister Wissing and the state transport ministers to submit a proposal for permanent financing of a “cheap” monthly ticket by autumn.
"Whether the connection ticket then costs 39, 49 or 69 euros is secondary," he told the editorial network Germany.
"But it has to be within a framework that has a psychological effect and is worthwhile for people to leave their car."
(lma/dpa/AFP)
