Status: 07.09.2022 4:55 p.m
The federal government wants to provide 1.5 billion euros for the successor to the 9-euro ticket, provided that the federal states contribute the same amount. But the wave off due to empty coffers – and need to speak.
According to Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP), there should be a successor regulation for the 9-euro ticket by the beginning of 2023 at the latest. Until then, however, the federal and state governments will have to move far towards each other – especially in the dispute over the financing of the new local transport ticket. The federal government wants to make 1.5 billion euros available annually if the federal states contribute at least the same amount.
The Saarland Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger (SPD) refers to the tense financial situation in many states and therefore expects “intensive talks with the federal government”. She told the “Rheinische Post”: “For Saarland, we don’t have any money left over.”
Basically, she thinks such a ticket is right, said Rehlinger. “But countries with tight budgets cannot automatically clap their hands with joy.” The income situation of the federal government is much more comfortable than that of the states. A price signal is important, but the general public transport service needs to be improved. “This requires a significant increase in regionalization funds.”
Money for the expansion of local transport demanded
Bavaria’s Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU) criticized the Bavarian radio the Federal Minister of Transport: He is doing “the third step before the first”. Bernreiter referred to a unanimous decision by the 16 transport ministers at a special conference that “we cannot afford it financially. Energy prices are also galloping away in the transport sector.”
Bernreiter also initially demanded regionalization funds from the federal government in order to be able to expand the range of local public transport. “And then you can talk about a cheap ticket.” In addition, the rural area is “completely empty” in the discussion, said the state transport minister. “This is a big city discussion and we have to take everyone with us.”
Consumer advocates see the federal government as having an obligation
Consumer advocates see the federal government as having an obligation. If necessary, the federal government would have to finance a discount ticket alone, said the head of the Federal Association of Consumers, Ramona Pop, the “Tagesspiegel”. “We had wished that there would be a nationwide valid 29-euro ticket for local public transport from September.” Now the tug-of-war between the federal and state governments will start over who pays how much. That could take time.
The discount ticket was valid in June, July and August. Citizens could use local public transport throughout Germany for nine euros a month. The ticket was one of several relief measures given the current high cost of living. The association of transport companies rated the ticket as a “complete success”. 52 million tickets were sold accordingly.
Flixbus wants to be there
The provider Flixbus also wants to be involved in the follow-up ticket. “It doesn’t work without a long-distance bus,” said Flixbus boss André Schwämmlein. The company is ready to relieve traffic. Initial talks are already underway to integrate the national long-distance bus service into the future discount ticket.
In this way, the gap between regional and long-distance transport can be closed and in rural areas, where the long-distance bus is often the only alternative to the car, there is “added value for millions of people”.