“It was one of the best ideas we had”
(Photo: Getty Images)
Berlin Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the nine-euro ticket introduced by his coalition as a “great success” and announced talks about a successor plan. “It was one of the best ideas we had,” said the SPD politician on Sunday at the open day in the Chancellery. The ticket was well received and above all showed where there were difficulties and deficits in local public transport.
Many citizens wished for simpler structures and larger tariff associations, and changing trains had to be easier. The Chancellor announced that Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) was examining with the 16 federal states how “convenience, usability, perhaps also affordability” in local public transport could be better regulated.
The transport policy spokeswoman for the SPD parliamentary group, Dorothee Martin, called for an early discussion with the federal states. The schedule announced by Wissing is not sufficient for this, she told the editorial network Germany (RND). “If we want to introduce a new nationwide ticket at the beginning of 2023, the process for this must start now and the timetable must be clear. In October, as advised by the transport minister, that’s too late,” she added.
The nine-euro ticket for local transport throughout Germany was decided as part of the federal government’s relief package for the months of June, July and August to help consumers in the face of high inflation. Finance Minister Christian Lindner had emphasized that he saw no scope for a continuation in the federal budget.
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.
More: Green boss wants reform of the company car privilege