In the discussion about cheaper tickets for buses and trains, the German District Association speaks out against further discount campaigns. “This would not be a sustainable investment,” said President Reinhard Sager (CDU).
The tariffs for local public transport (ÖPNV) are not too expensive compared to the costs of your own car. Additional subsidies are not necessary.
The 9-euro monthly ticket for local transport is available for the last time in August. The three-month campaign was intended to support commuters in the face of high energy prices and to promote a switch from cars to buses and trains.
Lindner’s cancellation for an extension
Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) today confirmed his rejection of an extension. The user fees are necessary for meaningful control, he said. Free is not better. “We need limited tax funds for investments in the network infrastructure.” Lindner drew criticism when he spoke of the “free mentality” in the debate.
The German Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation accused Lindner of mocking people who financed company cars for higher earners and the construction of the Autobahn with their taxes. More bus and train lines with shorter intervals are needed, especially in rural areas, in order to attract more people to public transport. “For this, the 9-euro ticket needs a follow-up offer and the public transport service needs significant improvements.”
According to Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD), the 9-euro ticket was a great success and really relieved a lot of people. She advocates a successor solution and thus contradicts the Federal Minister of Finance.
Regarding Lindner’s statements about relieving taxpayers of 10.1 billion euros in view of the increased prices in the coming year and increasing child benefits, Giffey said: “The question is whether – if you do more and more of the same – then to the Positions helps wherever people need help,” said the SPD politician on the Welt television station. “If I increase child benefit again, that’s nice for those who get it. But again you don’t have the older people with you, the pensioners, you don’t have the students with you either.”
Giffey advocated an excess profits tax. “If certain people here simply make excessive profits out of this crisis-ridden situation, then I would perhaps say: Maybe you can’t lower a tax, but rather raise a tax?”
365-euro annual ticket also an issue
Association managing director Antje von Broock supports the idea of ??a 365-euro annual ticket. Federal funds are also necessary for the massive expansion of supply. “Only in this way will traffic be able to meet its climate targets at all.” The district council also called for making public transport outside of the big cities a “mobility alternative that is suitable for everyday use”.
According to the Association of German Transport Companies, around 38 million 9-euro tickets have been sold nationwide since the start of sales at the end of May up to and including Monday. In addition, around ten million subscribers received a corresponding discount every month.
“Not enough staff and especially not enough vehicles”
“The 9-euro ticket showed the problems in regional traffic like a magnifying glass,” said the head of the general works council of DB Regio, Ralf Damde, the editorial network Germany (RND / Tuesday). “There are not enough staff and, in particular, too few vehicles to continue to absorb the increase in passenger numbers in the future,” he said. “The federal government must finance a central vehicle pool, which is equipped with at least 300 vehicles and is located at several locations in Germany.”
The Chairwoman of the Central Works Council DB Station
