It’s supposed to start on June 1st: the nine-euro monthly ticket for buses and trains in Germany. Now officially decided by the Bundestag and Bundesrat.
With the nine-euro ticket, you can travel around the country without having to change trains
Valid nationwide in June, July and August for nine euros each (if you already have a monthly ticket, the difference should be reimbursed) on the bus and train – for many people this could be an opportunity to take a holiday trip to the sea or to the mountains not to do by car this year – and possibly become a boomerang. The Pro Bahn passenger association fears problems with implementation. Spokesman Karl-Peter Naumann recently warned in the “Rheinische Post” that “overcrowded trains on routes popular with tourists” are to be expected. The transport companies want to react as far as possible by using more vehicles and staff.
The ticket will not be valid on long-distance trains operated by Deutsche Bahn (including ICE and Intercity) or by other providers such as Flixtrain in the holiday areas.
It is limited to local public transport, i.e. to regional trains and regional express trains, to S-Bahn and U-Bahn trains, trams, regular buses and in some places (e.g. in Hamburg) also to ferries.
And yet: Many regional trains also cover considerable distances and thus allow travel to many corners of the republic without having to change trains (albeit slower).
In the photo series above you can see ten selected long regional train connections in Germany, which you can probably use from June for nine euros a month.
Editor’s note: This photo gallery was first published on April 17, 2022. The article has been updated.
Sources: Deutsche Bahn timetable, “Rheinische Post”, News agencies DPA and AFP