SPD proposal: extend the 9-euro ticket in Berlin

Created: 2022-08-26Updated: 2022-08-26 10:44 AM

Franziska Giffey (SPD), Governing Mayor of Berlin, speaks.

© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

For a long time, the federal and state governments have been struggling to find a successor solution to the 9-euro ticket.

Now there is a concrete idea for Berlin on the table.

Berlin - A 9-euro ticket for public transport in Berlin could also be available beyond August.

Prime Minister Franziska Giffey's SPD proposes introducing such a regulation by the end of the year.

With the ticket, however, owners could only travel in the AB tariff zone - i.e. in Berlin, not in Brandenburg, and no longer nationwide.

Corresponding media reports were confirmed to the dpa on Friday by party circles.

The heads of the red-green-red coalition met on Friday for a closed meeting to discuss how the country can help people in need, but also companies or institutions in the energy crisis with sharply increased prices.

The proposal for the new, regional 9-euro ticket is on the table.

The nationwide valid 9-euro monthly ticket for local transport is available from June to the end of August.

The three-month campaign financed by the federal government was intended to support commuters in view of high energy prices and to promote a switch from cars to buses and trains.

Possible successor solutions are discussed controversially, they are also a topic at a special conference of the transport ministers of the federal states on Friday.

Both Giffey and Berlin's mobility senator Bettina Jarasch (Greens) have been campaigning for an uncomplicated connection solution that is inexpensive for people for a long time.

From their point of view, this is not only a concrete relief in times of high prices, but also a contribution to the traffic turnaround away from the car.

Jarasch initially commented cautiously on the SPD proposal on Friday morning.

"First of all, we are happy if the SPD is also thinking about how to finance public transport," said a spokesman when asked by the dpa.

“That is an issue for the coalition committee.”

Berlin's Greens and Jarasch recently joined a proposal from the federal party for a local ticket for 29 euros a month and a nationwide ticket for 49 euros a month.

The federal government must contribute significantly to the financing.

The SPD has long been pursuing the idea of ​​a 365-euro annual ticket - which would cost around 30 euros a month.

The 9 euro proposal now goes further.

The idea of ​​offering such a ticket by the end of the year is based on the hope that a nationwide regulation for public transport will have been found by then.

A 9-euro ticket limited to Berlin would not help the numerous commuters to and from Brandenburg.

The state of Brandenburg would also have to give money for a cross-state regulation.

According to the DGB, a 9-euro ticket just for Berlin would be neither social nor ecological.

"Excluding commuters from tariff zone C is absurd," said Katja Karger, chairwoman of the DGB for Berlin and Brandenburg.

Many of the people working in Berlin come from the surrounding area.

"Berlin and Brandenburg must now start a joint mobility offensive," says Karger.

dpa