The Lower Saxony Ministry of Transport can imagine a North German model as the successor to the 9-euro ticket for local public transport. This applies in the event that the federal government does not launch a Germany-wide follow-up offer for the campaign that expires at the end of August.
The federal government should enable the federal states to be able to offer a cheap, nationwide ticket after the 9-euro ticket has expired, the ministry in Hanover announced at the request of the German Press Agency.
However, Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) confirmed in the “Bild am Sonntag” that he saw no scope for such a project. “The fuel discount and 9-euro ticket are expiring. There will be no follow-up regulation,” he told the newspaper.
However, he is open to increasing the distance allowance for employees. “Everyone benefits from this, because that applies regardless of car, train or bicycle,” argued Lindner.
The Lower Saxony Ministry of Transport said: “If a nationwide ticket cannot be implemented, the five northern German federal states could alternatively set something up.” The idea has not yet been explained in more detail.
Lower Saxony’s Transport Minister Bernd Althusmann (CDU) said that a follow-up solution would only be possible with a significant increase in federal funds. “It cannot be that the federal government initiates the ticket, leaves the implementation to the states, celebrates its success and then does not want to take responsibility for a connection solution.” Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) had previously made it clear that he sees the countries to move.
The last month of the 9-euro ticket begins on Monday, August 1st. From June to August, bus and train drivers could and can use local and regional transport nationwide for 9 euros per month.
For the SPD parliamentary group deputy in the Bundestag, Detlef Müller, the current debate with a large number of suggestions shows that the federal and state governments should now get together promptly. “
From my point of view, a special conference of transport ministers should take place in August, at which the cushioning of the increased operating costs should also be considered. Ticket, said Mueller.
The Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND) campaigned for a 365-euro annual ticket. The great demand for the 9-euro ticket proves that people are increasingly using trains and buses, especially if they don’t have to fight their way through a jungle of tariffs and it’s cheap.
