Last day for the 9-euro ticket: no more cheap local transport

The inexpensive 9-euro ticket for local transport expires after three months. In view of rising energy prices, transport companies also want to increase prices. Transport Minister Wissing has now announced a successor offer – but remains vague.

The demand was great and now it is ending anyway: after around 52 million 9-euro tickets were sold, the offer expires in the night from Wednesday to Thursday. The federal government had introduced the inexpensive ticket for three months to temporarily relieve the burden on citizens in view of high energy prices. The federal government had financed the campaign with 2.5 billion euros.

From September 1st, the old, mostly significantly higher prices will be due again for subscription and monthly tickets. There is also a risk of further increases in the near future: high costs for electricity and diesel are also a burden for many transport companies – and in many cases are likely to affect fares. In some regions, surcharges of three, four or almost five percent have already been decided.

Financing issue

Meanwhile, the discussion about a successor plan for the cheap ticket is in full swing. Most of the ideas refer to the level of the price of a future monthly ticket: from 9 to 69 euros, numerous suggestions have been made in the meantime. The federal SPD, for example, has brought a nationwide 49-euro ticket into play, and the Greens want to add a regional monthly ticket for 29 euros. The Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), in turn, had spoken out in favor of a 69-euro ticket.

The sticking point, however, is not so much the price as the financing: Because the federal states are demanding above all an improvement in the basic offer in local transport: more infrastructure, more staff, more vehicles. And for that you need more money.

Countries demand more money

When it comes to financing, the federal and state governments have been shifting responsibility for weeks. From the point of view of the federal states, it is clear: there simply cannot be another cheap public transport ticket. The basic offer in local transport must also be improved: more infrastructure, more staff, more vehicles. They are therefore demanding that the government significantly increase the so-called regionalization funds with which the federal government co-finances public transport in the federal states and municipalities.

In addition to the increase of 1.5 billion euros per year that has already been requested, the transport ministers want a further 1.65 billion euros each for the years 2022 and 2023, with reference to the high energy prices. Otherwise, companies would soon have to increase public transport prices – instead of offering cheaper buses and trains, trips would become more expensive.

Wissing announces successor model

Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing has now announced a successor regulation for the 9-euro ticket. He had convinced Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) that there had to be another, more modern ticket “and that’s why we will work to ensure that the old tariff structures do not fall back, as is now the case on September 1.” , says the FDP politician on Deutschlandfunk.

He agreed with Lindner that there could be no free public transport because it had to be continuously developed. “But of course the pricing has to be attractive in the end,” emphasized Wissing. The Minister of Finance will also dig into the cash register again for this. However, the federal states must also make their contribution. Wissing did not provide any information as to when a new ticket structure would be introduced.

Consumer advocates are calling for a quick successor

The consumer advice centers have criticized the end of the 9-euro ticket for buses and trains without replacement for the time being. The head of the Federal Association (vzbv), Ramona Pop, told the dpa news agency that letting it end without a hitch was the worst possible news for consumers. “According to studies, the ticket has curbed inflation, saved energy, relieved the wallet and the climate and provided an impetus for the urgently needed traffic turnaround.”

Consumer advocate Pop warned that the end of the 9-euro ticket would now lead to an absurd situation: “First politicians attracted people with a cheap public transport ticket. Now they are being deterred with price increases – after all, some transport companies have already announced significant price increases. ”

The vzbv boss demanded: “The federal government must stop arguing and get a permanently cheap public transport ticket on the way.” She promoted the proposal of a 29-euro monthly ticket, which would be an important relief measure. Many people on low incomes are already unable to afford their own car, and for some even public transport is too expensive. In view of the current energy price crisis, the numbers are likely to get worse.