By the end of August, the 9-euro ticket should bring relief to millions of people in their everyday lives. Instead of an expensive bus and train subscription, commuters can use local public transport for 9 euros a month – and travel within Germany is also possible under certain conditions.
However, many people believe that the €9 ticket is valid for 30 days from the date of issue. But that is a misconception. The June ticket is only valid until June 30 (11:59 p.m. sharp). If you are traveling on local public transport at 12:01 a.m. on July 1, you will then need the 9-euro ticket for the month of July. Otherwise, a fine of 60 euros will be charged.
Demand for €9 ticket could increase in July
Consumers should expect longer waiting times in front of vending machines or sales outlets in the first few days of July. July is one of the most important holiday months in Germany, as 16 federal states have their summer holidays this month.
FOCUS Online advises: Book the 9 euro ticket digitally. Either via the apps of Deutsche Bahn or the regional transport company in your place of residence. Travel agencies also sell the 9 euro ticket if you can buy train tickets there.
Depending on the federal state, you should also expect a higher load on the DB Regio trains. Regional Express, Regional Bahn and Inter-Regio-Express trains of Deutsche Bahn are affected.
When could the trains get crowded?
If you travel by train and want to use the 9-euro ticket, you should know these dates. From this point on, there is a higher train load because many people want to travel.
- Baden-Wuerttemberg: from July 28th
- Bavaria: from July 29th
- Berlin from July 7th
- Brandenburg: from July 7th
- Bremen : from July 14th
- Hamburg: from July 7th
- Hesse: from July 22nd
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: from July 1st
- North Rhine-Westphalia: since June 24
- Lower Saxony: from July 14th
- Rhineland-Palatinate: from July 22nd
- Saarland: from July 22nd
- Saxony: from July 15th
- Saxony-Anhalt: from July 13th
- Schleswig Holstein: from July 1st
- Thuringia: from July 15th
Be careful on tourist routes at peak times: Especially on routes to the coast or in local recreation areas, day trippers will jostle at weekends.
Ideally travel between Monday and Wednesday. Avoid routes with multiple train changes at weekends. Reason? You run the risk of missing the connections.
Especially on routes that are heavily used by tourists, trains can be very full at peak times and delays can quickly accumulate because it takes longer to get on and off at the individual stops. The connecting train could then possibly be gone.
The railway cannot extend the respective trains because the platforms are too short for this. Single-track connections often do not tolerate any additional journeys and there is a lack of staff at small stations to advise people.
What should I watch out for with the 9-euro ticket in July?
Regional trains to tourist destinations are in very high demand. Passengers should find out more from the local transport associations or via the DB Navigator shortly before starting their journey.
In view of the high occupancy rate, it cannot be guaranteed that travelers will be able to take their bicycles with them.
When planning your trip, you should prefer journeys with slightly longer connection times. Or at least make sure that you can still arrive with the following trains if you should miss a train.
FOCUS Online advises: The transfer times can be adjusted on the train booking page under the “Intermediate stops” tab. If you don’t feel like stress and prefer a little time buffer, you can set “at least 30 minutes”, for example. Connections with shorter transfer times are not even displayed in the selection.
Can I take luggage with me?
Yes. Especially on tourist routes, for example in the direction of the coasts, some regional trains are even designed for large amounts of luggage, says Karl-Peter Naumann. According to the railway, however, the rule applies: Normally, a maximum of one piece of load is permitted per passenger. So: One passenger – one suitcase. There is space for luggage in the shelves and under or behind the seats, but not in the aisle.
Pushchairs can also be taken on the train. However, it can get tight at peak times. Deutsche Bahn therefore recommends taking collapsible models and buggies with you, especially during the holidays, weekends and public holidays.
Good to know when a regional train is bursting at the seams: When it comes to taking a train, pregnant women and families with small children – as well as travelers with restricted mobility – have priority.