Status: 03/25/2022 17:09
Länder are concerned about the heavy administrative burden on the € 9 monthly ticket planned by the federal government for local public transport. Instead, transport ministers propose a zero ticket.
The federal state transport ministers still see significant problems with the implementation of the 9 euro local transport ticket to relieve citizens of rising mobility costs. The chairman of the conference of transport ministers, the mayor of Bremen and the senator for the environment, Maike Schaefer of the Green Party, said after the videoconference of transport ministers that they would like to introduce the ticket quickly, preferably on May 1. However, most transport ministers recommended offering a three-month free ticket instead of a 9-euro ticket in order to minimize the administrative burden.
Schaefer said the states wanted to make a nationwide bid. Details will now be discussed in the federal state working group. She demanded that the cost of the cheap ticket be fully borne by the federal government and should not be borne by the federal states or the transport companies.
Due to high energy prices, the traffic light coalition agreed on an aid package yesterday, which includes the temporary introduction of tickets for 9 euros per month in public transport. The federal government wants to increase funds for the regionalization of the “9 for 90” ticket, with which it supports the federal states in the offer of public transport.
Wissing stays with a ticket of 9 euros
The Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing from the FDP did not accept the recommendations of the federal states. That said, you can offer a 9 euro ticket as an online ticket nationwide. Payment can also be made online. Ticket machines would not need to be redone for this purpose. Subscription customers would have to receive a refund of the difference in the price of a monthly ticket or a ticket to work. It is also necessary with a zero tariff.
The 9 euro ticket also allows you to collect data on how many passengers also buy a monthly ticket. Wissing said the federal government wanted to encourage a switch to local public transport and save energy with the ticket. He estimated the loss of revenues for transport companies at ten billion euros and explained that they would be taken over by the federal government, including possible additional costs. A zero-tariff solution would cost another billion euros more.
According to the Minister of Transport of Baden-Württemberg Winfried Hermann (Greens), it is still unclear whether cheap tickets should only be valid with the relevant transport associations or nationwide. Wissing assumed that it was valid in the relevant transport association.
Opinions split
The Pro Bahn passenger association previously expressed massive criticism of the planned 9 euro ticket. “In our opinion, 9 out of 90 is a quick populist shot with no lasting effect,” said Pro Bahn spokesman Karl-Peter Naumann of the German editorial network (RND). From a Pro Bahn point of view, however, it would make more sense to invest resources in the development of public transport. The Pro-Railroad Alliance also criticized the federal government’s plan. The increase in regionalization measures announced in the coalition agreement has not yet taken place.
The economy of Veronika Grimm, in turn, welcomed plans for signaling events. “I think it is right to take the burden off low-income people, including those in need. It is also right to provide cheaper public transport, “she told Deutschlandfunk. However, she criticized the reduction in gasoline prices as being unproductive in terms of climate protection.
Before the conference of special transport ministers: harsh criticism of the 9 euro ticket
Uli Hauck, ARD Berlin, 3/25/2022 1:04 PM