08.06.2022, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Rostock: Auf dem Hauptbahnhof kommt eine S-Bahn aus Warnemünde an. Seit der Einführung des 9-Euro-Tickets hat die Zahl der Reisenden im Nahverkehr deutlich zugenommen. Foto: Bernd Wüstneck/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++

According to a media report, the federal government is considering continuing the nine-euro ticket for local transport, which is limited until the end of August, in a modified form as a climate ticket.

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“The attractiveness of public transport should be permanently increased with tariff measures,” quoted the Düsseldorf “Handelsblatt” from a draft for the federal government’s immediate climate protection program, which is to be decided in mid-July.

A discounted climate ticket is planned as a uniform national local transport monthly or annual ticket for regional rail passenger transport and other local transport, it said.

The federal states are actually responsible for local public transport. However, the federal government is ready to “financially support” a climate ticket. Details are still being checked.

The Federal Ministry for the Environment did not want to comment on the report when asked. With the immediate climate protection program, the government wants to determine how it intends to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 in accordance with the agreed targets for CO2 emissions.

Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) is responsible for the program in cooperation with the responsible departments. Germany has committed to reducing its CO2 emissions by at least 65 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

However, the transport industry has warned of a restriction in the range of buses and trains after the end of the 9-euro ticket.

Ingo Wortmann, President of the Association of German Transport Companies, said on Monday: “The federal government is currently not fulfilling its financial commitments from the coalition agreement and fuel and energy costs have also been exploding in our industry for months. If these issues are not resolved as quickly as possible, then we will not be discussing the continuation of a 9-euro ticket, but about restrictions on public transport services from autumn.”

Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) had dampened expectations that there could be follow-up rules for tank discounts and 9-euro tickets in September. “We cannot compensate for the long-term increase in prices for imported oil, the development of the dollar and the shortages in refineries with state money,” Lindner told the German Press Agency.

The important effect of the price signal was also canceled with the 9-euro ticket. “Steps towards free public transport are critical because shortages cannot then be controlled by price,” says Lindner.

There would be a risk that without prices, capacities would be used unnecessarily and excessively. The ticket campaign lasts until the end of August. Wortmann said that everyone involved in the industry, at federal and state level, is aware that the 9-euro ticket is a one-time relief measure for citizens.