The railway unions GDL and EVG have spoken out against continuing the popular 9-euro ticket. Railway staff would already be working at the limit and the ticket would have missed its actual destination, it is said. Commuters are deterred by full trains.
Railway unions: 9-euro ticket is a mistake
If the GDL and EVG unions have their way, then the 9-euro ticket should not be continued. Although it has now sold 31 million times, the employee organizations consider the cheap ticket to be wrong. According to Martin Burkert from the EVG railway union, employees working for the railways are already working at the load limit and beyond.
Claus Weselsky from the train drivers’ union GDL also speaks of an “enormous burden”. In addition, I have the 9-euro ticket missed its real goal. Instead of relieving the financial burden on commuters, additional passengers ensure far more traffic on the rails than is otherwise the case. However, the system would “wear out” even without a rush of customers (source: rbb).
According to Burkert, the 9-euro ticket is for 21 million new customers taken care of. Commuters, on the other hand, are deterred because it is now more difficult to get to work by bus and train. He speaks of a “counterproductive” product and refers to travelers who use the 9-euro ticket, for example, to travel from Berlin to the Baltic Sea to go on vacation there.
More about the cheap ticket in the video:
GDL: Public transport has its price
According to Weselsky, the 9-euro ticket would give the impression that transport is cheap. On the other hand, he would like a “proper” ticket that goes to a “reasonable” price is offered. However, he does not name a specific amount.
How the 9-euro ticket will continue from September is still the subject of discussions. The Association of German Transport Companies recommends a 69-euro ticket. The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder can imagine a 365-euro annual ticket. According to Finance Minister Christian Lindner, the 9-euro ticket will not be continued in its current form.