Editor in chief at IamExpat Media
Over the next three months, the 9-euro ticket is set to provide cheap public transport for millions of people across Germany. But according to the transport companies, the financial relief won’t be long-lasting: in September, ticket price hikes are looking likely.
The Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), the group representing transport associations across Germany, has told the RND that it expects public transport prices to increase once the 9-euro ticket scheme has come to an end, on the basis that the government is not adequately compensating the federal states for the discounted ticket.
“In the medium term, we will have to add the missing funds to fares, or limit the offer [of the 9-euro ticket],” said VDV President Ingo Wortmann. “So ticket prices will continue to rise - not directly on September 1, but in the next price rounds. Unfortunately, we will then find ourselves in the situation that people who are already struggling will have to pay more for their journeys.”
Wortmann added that he did not expect that people would be persuaded by the scheme to switch from driving to public transport long-term. “All previous experience with particularly cheap public transport shows that the offer has to be right first, the price is secondary.”
Nonetheless, demand for the 9-euro ticket has so far been pretty enormous, with Deutsche Bahn selling more than a million in the first two days of presales. Wortmann said that the offer could lead to tension among passengers on some busy routes, particularly over the summer holidays.
“I don’t want to talk about chaos, but there will be a lot of full trains and buses,” he said. “When the trains are very full, there is certainly a risk of a tense atmosphere among travellers and passengers.”