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In Germany, nine-euro tickets will be available on public transport from June to counteract the high energy prices. In Switzerland, the first left-wing politicians are calling for a similar reduction in public transport tickets. However, the public transport associations are critical of the idea.
From the beginning of June to the end of August, a nine-euro ticket will be valid on public transport in Germany. The discounted public transport ticket is part of a relief package that also includes a limited petrol discount.
In this way, the federal government wants to relieve the burden on citizens who are confronted with higher costs due to rising energy prices.
Left-wing politicians are demanding special savings tickets
In Switzerland, too, a concession for public transport should be introduced to counteract the high petrol prices, says SP National Councilor Matthias Aebischer. He calls for a special savings ticket because in the current crisis it is not driving a car that should be cheaper, but the use of public transport. “That’s why I think the idea of the nine-euro ticket is great – that could be a day pass over the summer in Switzerland.” Who then needs this and when, can still be discussed.
I think the idea of the nine-euro ticket is great – that could be a day pass over the summer in Switzerland.
When it comes to financing, the decisive factor is whether the discounts should apply to existing public transport users – or whether it is possible to get drivers to use public transport, says Aebischer. So there is additional money and the federal government can also help. “Instead of making petrol and diesel cheaper, the federal government should do something like this.” The SP National Council wants to pass its request on to the Federal Council next week.
Less enthusiastic public transport associations
Ueli Stückelberger, Director of the Association of Public Transport (VÖV), is not very enthusiastic about a special supersaver ticket. “We have a good offer and we want a sustainable solution – the nine-euro ticket is certainly not.”
The introduction of a time-limited special saver ticket is also not a good option for the Swiss Transport Club (VCS). “In Switzerland we have a well-functioning public transport system and we have many offers that already work,” says VCS Managing Director Andreas Gautschi. Many questions would be raised with the cheaper public transport ticket – for example, it would not be clear which routes it should apply to and which not. In addition, it would not be clear what would happen to the existing subscriptions. “Therefore, from our point of view, it makes no sense to create additional ambiguities with such a hasty exercise.”
The industry organization for public transport, Alliance SwissPass, describes the financing of a heavily discounted ticket based on the model of the nine-euro ticket as highly unrealistic to SRF. Especially against the background of the corona crisis, when fewer people used public transport and the degree of cost recovery fell significantly as a result.
In Switzerland, as is also expected in Germany, capacity utilization problems are likely to arise quickly at peak traffic times or at (tourist) hotspots.
In addition, the utilization of the means of transport is subject to large fluctuations over the course of the day. “Therefore, in Switzerland, as expected in Germany, there are likely to be utilization problems at peak traffic times or at (tourist) hotspots. An expansion of the offer would be unavoidable, provided that this is feasible at all,” writes Alliance SwissPass on request.
The public transport associations as well as SP national councilor Aebischer are all in agreement on this point: the aim must be for more car users to use public transport sustainably.