The pressure on politicians to soon present a connection solution to the 9-euro ticket is growing. “Over the summer, the 9-euro ticket impressively showed the potential that an attractive tariff has for public transport and thus for the mobility turnaround in Germany,” says a position paper published by the Alliance for Socially Responsible Mobility Turnaround on Tuesday. Several transport and social associations as well as trade unions are involved in the initiative.
The alliance called for rapid political action at federal and state level. An affordable, uncomplicated and nationwide uniform connection regulation for the local transport card is needed, which expires on Wednesday. “There must be massive investments in the expansion of infrastructure, in personnel and vehicles,” says the paper. The alliance also called for secure public transport financing.
The federal government paid 2.5 billion euros
With the 9-euro ticket, consumers could travel throughout Germany on buses and regional trains in June, July and August for 9 euros each. The federal government financed the three-month campaign with 2.5 billion euros to compensate for loss of income at transport companies.
With the offer, the federal government wanted to relieve citizens in the face of inflation. Fuel tax has also been reduced for motorists. This measure also expires at the end of the month. The federal and state governments are now arguing about follow-up regulations and general public transport financing.
SPD and Greens bring 49-euro ticket into play
The federal government co-finances local transport in the federal states and municipalities via the so-called regionalization funds – this year this is around 9.4 billion euros. In addition, there is another billion euros from another financial pot. From the point of view of the federal states, this is not enough to expand public transport for significantly more passengers. They demand a significant, permanent increase in regionalization funds.
SPD and Greens have brought a 49-euro ticket into play, which should also be valid nationwide. According to a survey by the opinion research institute Yougov, 60 percent of Germans would support such a ticket. Around a quarter of those surveyed disagree.
