Consumers can purchase the so-called €9 monthly ticket from the Deutsche Bahn from May 23 – provided the project is approved by the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.
The group announced on Sunday that the ticket is then available via the DB Navigator app and all other digital rail channels. “It will also be available at approximately 5,500 Deutsche Bahn ticket machines and more than 400 decibel travel centers at train stations,” she added.
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With the monthly ticket, travelers can travel around Germany by public transport for nine euros – in all cities and across all network borders. Tickets can also be purchased online or at the counter from other carriers. Several associations have already announced their desire to start selling on May 23.
In June, July and August, special tickets are intended to enable travel on local and regional transport throughout Germany – for €9 per month and therefore significantly less than regular monthly tickets. This is part of a relief package that the traffic light coalition between SPD, Greens and the FDP is reacting to as energy prices rise.
At the same time, it should be a gourmet show to win more customers for buses and trains. Parliament and the Federal Council will have to vote on the bill next week.
Bayern against a “three-month consolation patch”
In the Bundesrat, Bavaria threatens to block the upcoming vote on the 9 euro monthly ticket. “If the federal government thinks it can be commended by the federal states for having a three-month consolation and that others have to foot the bill, that is a big mistake,” said Bavarian Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU). German news agency in Munich.
If the federal government does not fully reimburse ticket costs and does not significantly increase localization funds as promised in the coalition agreement, it will run into a wall in the Bundesrat.
“Under the present circumstances, I do not see that Bavaria is able to agree to the law in the Bundesrat. The real satisfaction of citizens is the permanent strengthening of local public transport with more federal funds for a better offer.”
Instead, the federal government offers a “snapshot”, at the end of which there is the risk of significant performance constraints given perennial problems such as rising fuel prices. “Anyone who leaves countries, without which implementation will not succeed, must advance the negotiations, should not be surprised if nothing comes out in the end.”
A ‘unique opportunity’ to protect the climate
With a €9 ticket, there is a “unique opportunity to attract more people to local public transport and climate-friendly railways in the long term,” said Jörg Sandvaux, president of responsible rail DB Reggio.
According to Deutsche Bahn, a ticket of €9 will always be valid from the first to the last day of every month. So if you only access it in the middle of the month, you can only drive with it for the remaining half of the month.
From the start of the sale on May 23, it will be possible to purchase tickets for all three months at the same time. The federal government is financing the project by transferring €2.5 billion to the states to offset lost income. (dpa)