The traffic light coalition committee had decided on the ticket for nine euros per month.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin Around seven million of the special tickets have been sold until shortly before the start of the 9-euro ticket this Wednesday. “So there is a real run on the 9-euro ticket,” said Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) on Tuesday in view of the current sales figures from the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV).
The figures refer to all associations and companies as well as to sales online, at counters or at machines. “These are additional customers who have not previously had a subscription,” emphasized Wissing.
The VDV estimates that around 30 million people will use the 9-euro ticket per month – either through their subscriptions or with a newly purchased ticket. With the special tickets, passengers can use local public transport throughout Germany. It is valid for June, July and August.
Politicians and companies hope that the ticket will have a major impact on traffic and the climate. Transport Minister Wissing says: The ticket will make local transport more attractive in the long term and help with the necessary climate protection.
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The coalition committee of the SPD, Greens and FDP had decided on the ticket for nine euros per month in order to relieve consumers of the rising energy prices. It is considered a Green Party project after the FDP pushed through temporary tax cuts for energy, such as a fuel rebate, benefiting motorists.
Federal states and companies are demanding the expansion of local transport
The federal government compensates for the financial losses of the transport companies in local transport with 2.5 billion euros. Oliver Wolff, General Manager of the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), said: “We are trying to turn a socio-political concept into a transport-political one”. The aim must be that new passengers continue to use buses and trains in the long term.
>>> Read here: Why the new monthly ticket costs nine euros
However, the VDV and the federal states, which are responsible for local transport, are calling for an expansion. Maike Schäfer, Bremen’s transport senator and chairwoman of the state transport ministers, demands: “But that also means that we also have to invest more in local transport”. The ticket doesn’t help if the bus only runs twice a day. “We have to open up rural areas better.”
With a view to next year, the federal and state governments want to negotiate more funds for local public transport, as provided for in the coalition agreement. In recent years, the federal government has transferred around ten billion euros to the federal states.
More: Nine-euro ticket – What awaits us from June 1st