Train and bus journeys are becoming more expensive: VGN decides to increase prices significantly

Created: 07/30/2022, 18:26

By: Tanja Kipke

Has the train for fare increases next year already left the VGN, or is Nuremberg going its own way when it comes to ticket prices?

© Nikolas Pelke

Ticket prices are rising: Nurembergers will have to dig deeper into their pockets for train and bus journeys from 2023.

The VGN struggles with "financial challenges".

Nuremberg – Thanks to the 9-euro ticket, many more people use public transport in Bavaria than two months ago.

The discounted federal ticket is still valid in August 2022.

Then the citizens have to pay the normal ticket prices again, or even more.

The VGN in Nuremberg has now decided to even increase the prices from 2023.

The "financial challenges" would require this step, as stated in a statement.

After a 9-euro ticket: VGN decides to significantly increase the price for Nuremberg

"The fares in the VGN will increase by an average of 3.02 percent from January 1, 2023." This means that at a current price of 2.75 euros for a single ticket in the Nuremberg city area, you pay almost nine cents more, i.e. 2.84 Euro.

For the first time, the price increase is calculated using a new index.

This index is made up of 50 percent of the income development of private households and 50 percent of the forecast increase in costs for transport companies.

"The financial situation of the approximately 135 transport companies in the VGN is more than tense," explains Managing Director of the VGN, Anja Steidl.

“After dwindling passenger numbers due to the pandemic, the next financial challenge is just around the corner with exploding energy and fuel prices.

The transport companies in the VGN urgently need more funds to be able to continue to provide their services.”

(By the way: Our Nuremberg newsletter regularly informs you about all the important stories from Middle Franconia and the Franconian metropolis. Register here.)

Video: Survey on the 9-euro ticket: the majority wants a permanently cheap offer

Nuremberg: Dispute over 365-euro ticket

Currently, about 45 percent of the costs for public transport are covered by the sale of tickets, the rest is borne by the public sector, it is said.

"Other models for financing public transport apart from user and tax financing must be discussed more intensively if we want to achieve the traffic turnaround," says Steidl.

In Nuremberg, a 365-euro ticket was recently heatedly discussed.

A citizens' initiative collected signatures, but the city leaders were against it.

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