Transport Minister Volker Wissing would like to “find ways to end the tariff jungle in Germany”. The Pro Bahn passenger association welcomes the plans – and refers to previous experiences.
Plans by Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) for a supra-regional local transport tariff have met with a positive response from the Pro Bahn passenger association. The tariff structure in local public transport is very complicated in Germany, said Andreas Schröder from Pro Bahn of the German Press Agency. Initiating a change here is therefore “fundamentally to be welcomed”. In view of the persistence of the transport associations, this will certainly not be easy. A possible model would be, for example, a “kilometer-based tariff”.
Wissing had told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” newspaper that after the expiry of the time-limited 9-euro ticket, he wanted to campaign for a permanent simplification of the fare system in local public transport. “If the complicated tariff zones disappear and the tickets are valid nationwide, local public transport will be used much more,” the FDP politician told the newspaper. “We should therefore finally find ways to end the tariff jungle in Germany.”
Schröder from Pro Bahn said that the past few weeks had shown that the monthly ticket for nine euros, which was limited to June, July and August, also resulted in additional leisure traffic “that would not have taken place otherwise”. This can be observed above all on routes that are interesting for tourists and where regional trains run parallel to long-distance traffic on long route sections. When considering a follow-up regulation for the 9-euro ticket, care should be taken “not to create unnecessary traffic”.
A positive effect of the 9-euro ticket is the “disruptive character,” said Schröder. This has shown – beyond the difficult financial issues – that fundamental changes are possible. (dpa)