Good news for all school students in Berlin – from Thursday onwards they will be able to use all forms of public transport in the city free of charge. At the same time, Berlin’s transport association VBB has also launched a new, inexpensive annual subscription for young apprentices and secondary educational trainees.
From August 1, all school students studying in Berlin, or who live in Berlin and study in Brandenburg, can apply for a free student travel card for the Berlin AB area from the city’s transport association, the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG).
Apprentices or trainees can also purchase the new, inexpensive annual travel pass for all public transport in Berlin and Brandenburg for a mere 365 euros, equal to one euro a day. In order to apply for the apprentice travel card, the educational institute or company offering the apprenticeship must be recognised by VBB.
Students who already own a student travel card do not need to apply for a new one, as their current subscription will be automatically converted. Those who do not already have a student travel card can easily apply for the free pass online – you just need to show a valid student ID card from the Berlin area and upload a current photograph.
Although 360.000 students are set to benefit from the new travel pass, the BVG has only received 140.000 applications – less than half of those eligible for one. And if you already ordered a student travel card, but it has yet to arrive? Fret not, as BVG has introduced a temporary agreement, which lets students travel for free with a valid form of student ID until the end of November.
Both new public transport initiatives were launched to help families and young adults save money on travel costs while promoting sustainable travel, according to a statement from VBB. The launch of the new travel subscriptions comes not long after Berlin mayor Michael Müller announced plans to introduce a 365-euro annual ticket for all for public transportation.