Is the 9-euro ticket successor coming after all?

Bayern suddenly changes their mind

Created: 09/08/2022 05:03

By: Victoria Krumbeck

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU).

© Sammy Minkoff/IMAGO

On Monday, Bayern still ruled out co-financing the 9-euro ticket successor.

A day later, the plan seems to have been thrown overboard.

Munich – The federal states in particular were dissatisfied with the federal government’s relief package.

Because for a successor to the 9-euro ticket, the federal government is planning co-financing of the federal states.

A spokesman for the Bavarian Ministry of Transport said on Monday that the federal government would have to finance such a ticket on its own.

Now new sounds are coming from Bavaria.

Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) did not rule out co-financing.

He was open to a possible successor.

Markus Söder is now open to a 9-euro ticket successor

Prime Minister Söder does not completely rule out co-financing of the planned follow-up offer for the 9-euro ticket.

"I'm not closing myself off from the start," said Söder on Tuesday after a cabinet meeting in Munich.

However, he sees "little chances at the moment that it can be taken over so easily," added the CSU boss.

The change of mind comes suddenly.

Just a day ago, Bavaria was the first federal state to announce that it did not want to participate financially in the ticket.

The traffic light coalition is aiming for a nationwide successor to the 9-euro ticket for local transport.

The ticket should be in the price range of 49 to 69 euros per month.

The federal government wants to subsidize 1.5 billion euros if the states pay at least as much.

But that's exactly where the problem lies.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had announced that he would convene a federal-state summit.

At this meeting, the ministers should talk to the federal government about funding.

Markus Söder suddenly open to regional ticket successor: "We listen to everything"

In principle, if the federal government wants a successor solution, it must also say how this should work, demanded Söder.

"By the way, with 1.5 billion times two you don't get a particularly large ticket structure." The majority of the state transport ministers are reluctant because relief is needed for rural areas in particular.

In addition, the costs for the existing local public transport system are increasing exponentially due to high energy prices and inflation.

"That means the deficits are going to be huge."

"We listen to everything, we also talk about it," said the CSU man.

He called the style of the federal government, which had proposed the successor offer without consulting the federal states, unacceptable - according to the motto "take it or leave it".

And it will only work if the federal government also increases its regionalization funds for local public transport, emphasized Söder.

"Because we have a high demand, especially in rural areas."

Electrification is needed in large parts of Bavaria, accessibility and intervals need to be improved, and support is needed for the second trunk line in Munich.

“So the ticket is not the very first priority.

But we don't close ourselves off from the start."