Railway works council raises the alarm
Fear of being overburdened by the 9-euro ticket
4/24/2022, 3:08 p.m
The 9-euro ticket for public transport is intended to provide financial relief to citizens from June. DB employees are now expressing concern that they could be the victims without additional staff. Saxony’s transport minister has meanwhile called on the federal government to assume the full cost of the ticket.
Deutsche Bahn employees are calling for additional staff to cope with an expected rush of passengers with the planned discounted monthly ticket. “We welcome the 9-euro ticket, but fear it will be overloaded, especially in the holiday regions,” said Ralf Damde, Vice-Chairman of the General Works Council DB Regio, the editorial network Germany (RND).
In order to avoid delays due to overcrowded trains, additional staff are needed at the stations of tourist hotspots. The Pro Bahn passenger association had also warned of overcrowded trains on classic holiday routes because of the planned cheap ticket. “We are also calling for additional security forces to be able to clear crowded trains and platforms if necessary. Otherwise chaos could break out,” Damde said.
In addition, it must be clarified nationwide whether the ticket entitles you to take bicycles with you. From June to the end of August, according to plans by the federal government, passengers should be able to travel in local and regional transport for 9 euros per month. This is intended to relieve consumers and provide incentives to save energy.
According to Damde, most of the expected additional passengers will have to make do with the existing range of trains and buses. “DB Regio alone is making 40 to 50 additional double-deck coaches operational. But there aren’t many more reserves.”
According to RND, Martin Burkert, deputy chairman of the railway and transport union (EVG), calls for more commitment from the federal government. According to a draft law by the Federal Ministry of Transport, 3.7 billion euros in additional federal funds are earmarked for the federal states to finance local transport this year. This is also intended to finance the 9-euro monthly ticket. The Greens and the federal states have already asked for more money.
Saxony’s Minister of Transport: The federal government must pay for the 9-euro ticket in full
Saxony’s Transport Minister Martin Dulig also sees the federal government as having an obligation: “The announcement by the federal government was clear: 9 euros each for three months – the federal government wanted to take over the costs in full. Now the Federal Ministry of Transport is trying to pass on some of these costs to the federal states and to offset the public transport Corona rescue package. But whoever orders must also pay, “said the SPD politician, according to a statement.
Without the promised sufficient financing, the introduction of the 9-euro ticket will not work. Dulig emphasized that the offsetting with the public transport rescue package planned by the Federal Ministry of Transport would mean a significant additional burden for all federal states. According to this, there should only be 1.2 billion euros for the public transport rescue package, which is 400 million euros less than promised.
In addition, the promised compensation for war-related additional costs, inflationary effects and performance adjustments should be completely ignored. This would mean a further 1.5 billion euros in additional costs for the federal states. The countries are not in a position to compensate for these unplanned new burdens, it said.