52 million tickets sold for ultra-cheap travel in Germany

BERLIN — About 52 million tickets permitting individuals to make use of native public transportation throughout Germany for simply 9 euros ({dollars}) per 30 days had been bought over the summer time, a gaggle representing transit corporations mentioned Monday, days earlier than the venture ends and amid widespread requires some type of successor.

The “9-euro ticket,” which was launched for 3 months initially of June, was a part of a authorities program meant to assist fight excessive inflation and gasoline costs. The federal government had additionally lowered the tax on gasoline, a reduction that ends on Wednesday too.

The ticket is legitimate on all native and regional transportation, although not on intercity trains, and has been successful with day-trippers and others over the summer time.

The VDV group, which represents greater than 630 German transportation corporations, mentioned that round 52 million of the tickets have been bought through the three-month interval. On high of that, greater than 10 million individuals who already had transport passes had the distinction between their common worth and the nine-euro ticket reimbursed. Germany has 83 million inhabitants.

VDV mentioned a survey that it coordinated with nationwide railway operator Deutsche Bahn, based mostly on 6,000 interviews per week, discovered that 10% of journeys with the ultra-cheap ticket changed journeys that in any other case would have been made by automobile.

The federal government has lengthy made clear that it would not prolong the measure past the tip of August, however there was a major clamor to introduce some type of discounted ticket — at nationwide or regional stage — after it expires.

There have been a number of demonstrations calling for the nine-euro ticket to be retained in its present kind. Berlin’s most important governing get together final week proposed a nine-euro month-to-month ticket only for the capital, although it is unsure that something will come of the proposal. And there may be an array of different concepts.

However even proponents say the German transportation system wants extra beneficiant financing. The Verkehrsclub Deutschland group, which advocates higher use of public transportation for environmental causes, argued that an additional 15 billion euros a yr are wanted to supply inexpensive fares and get the system in form.

Some individuals will not miss the nine-euro ticket, notably Germany’s two most important railway unions. Each have complained that the run on trains, which generally led to overcrowding and delays, heaped further stress on workers.