Successor to the 9-euro ticket: the first federal state is pushing ahead with its own offer

Created: 09/27/2022, 10:25 am

By: Lisa Mayerhofer

The federal and state governments are still divided in the debate about a successor to the popular nine-euro ticket.

One federal state has already introduced a follow-up offer.

© Sven Hoppe/dpa

The nine-euro ticket met with widespread approval in the summer - but a nationwide successor is still not in sight.

One federal state has now single-handedly introduced a 29-euro ticket.

Berlin – For three months, millions of passengers were able to use public transport throughout Germany for only nine euros.

The action met with great approval from the population and calls for a follow-up offer.

The federal and state governments are now aiming for clarity about a follow-up offer by mid-October, but are still struggling for financing.

29-euro ticket: Offer from October to December in Berlin

Berlin has now pushed ahead and has been offering a follow-up option for the nine-euro ticket since this week: From October to December, a subscription ticket can be purchased for the city area for EUR 29 a month, the Senate Chancellery announced on Monday Berlin with.

The 29-euro ticket is part of the Berlin relief package in the energy crisis.

The ticket with the greatly reduced monthly price is valid for the AB tariff zone in the capital.

Berlin's Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) explained: "This makes Berlin a pioneer in Germany." Environment Senator Bettina Jarasch (Greens) emphasized that hundreds of thousands of people benefited from the offer "in this crisis-ridden autumn and winter".

Is there a successor to the nine-euro ticket nationwide in January?

It is still unclear when and whether there will also be a follow-up offer for the nine-euro ticket in the other federal states.

According to Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP), the goal of introducing a follow-up ticket on January 1, 2023 has come much closer.

A working group should now quickly deal with the design and the specific ticket price.

However, the federal states insist on generally more money from the federal government for buses and trains due to high energy costs.

The chair of the state department heads, Maike Schaefer (Greens) from Bremen, said: "We have come a good step further." All states had announced that they could imagine carrying a connection ticket.

This is "a true relief" in times of skyrocketing energy prices.

The price must be attractive and not as high as for normal monthly tickets.

This must also be linked to an increase in federal regionalization funds for the states as a whole.

"We need more money in the system." The current funds are not even enough to maintain the status quo.

The consumer advice centers described it as a "missed opportunity" that there was still no agreement on a successor to the nine-euro ticket, and again called for a 29-euro monthly ticket - as is currently being offered in Berlin.

"Should the federal and state governments agree on a more expensive ticket, people with low incomes would have to get a discounted offer," said the head of the federal association, Ramona Pop.

The ticket must also be available in analogue form so that people without a smartphone are not excluded.