Transport Minister Volker Wissing has again ruled out that the 9-euro ticket will be extended. He justified this with the costs. However, he wanted to evaluate with the federal states how the bus and train service could be improved in the future.
For the time being, passengers cannot expect the 9-euro ticket for buses and trains to continue beyond August. Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) made it clear on Wednesday in Berlin that this measure as a reaction to the high energy prices was set out in the law for a limited period of time. “Accordingly, there are currently no considerations to extend it.”
On Thursday he followed up on the RTL and ntv show “Frühstart”. “It’s not possible in the long term. Because the ticket costs over a billion euros a month.” Therefore, the temporary measure must now be evaluated and then discussed with the federal states how the bus and train service can be improved.
However, the results of the ticket should be evaluated in order to gain valuable insights for agreed discussions with the federal states – including more incentives for using local transport in the normal fare system.
So far, Wissing has drawn a positive conclusion from the measure: “I am pleased that the measure has been so well received and so well received,” he said on Thursday. The 9-euro ticket would have exceeded the expectations of many, emphasizes Wissing, meaning above all the heads of the federal states: “Many federal states didn’t want the ticket at all and now they don’t want to get rid of it at all.”
The 9-euro tickets are valid in June, July and August and allow unlimited travel on local and regional buses and trains throughout Germany for one month – much cheaper than normal monthly tickets, which are also only valid in the network area.
The consumer advice centers are also demanding a connection offer to relieve rising prices. The head of the Federal Association (vzbv), Jutta Gurkmann, told the German Press Agency that an easily bookable ticket for all buses and trains in local transport should be offered for a monthly price of 29 euros, i.e. around one euro per day. “That would relieve everyone in the price crisis, but especially households with little money, and also give the necessary traffic turnaround more impetus.”
Wissing said he took note of the suggestion. However, further questions only arose after the planned evaluation.
