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In the spring, the German coalition government announced that it would offer a nationwide discount on passports – known as 9-euro tickets – for June, July and August. Each pass allows ticket holders to use the German public transport network for ወር 9 ($ 9.38) per calendar month.
The news of the plan, designed to quell rising fuel and living costs, has sparked excitement, but some have questioned whether transportation infrastructure can cope with the increase. National railway operator Deutsche Wahn was warned in early June that commuters should avoid cycling due to lack of space.
The German public transport authorities, which manage and operate travel networks across the country, had little time to prepare. “We had to improve our sales infrastructure and get more buses, trains and staff – although I have to say that this was not possible for the time being,” said Lars Wagner of the German Transport Association (VDV). Umbrella represents more than 600 transit officials and public transport companies in the country.
Crowded trains
Many buses and trains are expected to arrive at the Whitsu public festival in early June. They were right. Many regional trains heading to the famous Baltic and North Seas were so congested that they had to turn off passengers. Cycling has become impossible.
This passenger size was largely expected, though, Wagner says. It is, of course, a public holiday and a time when many people traditionally travel the country by bus and train every year. VDV, of course, was expecting people to embark on a weekend trip to popular destinations and to visit major German cities.
There were a lot of people at the Hamburg headquarters on the weekend of Whitsu.
Berlin and Brandenburg have seen a sharp increase in passenger numbers. Joachim Radunz of the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Authority (VBB) said there was a lot of trains to the Baltic coast and other popular destinations over the weekend.
Lack of service staff
The budget has attracted many people who have never traveled on public transportation. Lawmakers were optimistic about the outcome.
But this has led to new challenges, says Wagner. Some of these inexperienced travelers, for example, did not know how to get around train stations. This has led to delays, as Wagner said, “because confused passengers try to get off the train, thus preventing others from boarding or boarding.”
Service staff at some stations have helped travelers find their way and reduce delays. Dennis Jungans of the German Railways Alliance, which advocates for greater investment in the country’s railway infrastructure, said: Jungans, however, says improvements are needed in the coming weeks. He hopes to see more service providers in Germany’s major transport hubs.
Strong sales figures
He is still in high demand for a 9-euro passport in Germany. According to VDV estimates, 21 million tickets were sold in mid-May, when the ticket was received and today in July. In addition, about 10 million public transport season ticket holders received the discount pass.
In Berlin, the number of passengers has almost returned to pre-epidemic levels.
Sales figures exceeded industry expectations, and so did the number of passengers. The number of people using regional trains in Deutsche Wahne increased by 10 percent this June. Berlin and Brandenburg have seen significant growth in some ways, with up to 25% more passengers, according to VBB spokesman Rundz. This brings the total number of passengers back to where they were during the pre-epidemic. In fact, throughout Germany, Wagner said, “The 9-euro ticket is back to where we were before Covd.”
What is the verdict?
According to Radinz, the discounted travel passports were a great success in Berlin and Brandenburg, with many opting to take trains and buses instead of driving. Heading to North Berlin, Spring Forest, and other destinations, he said: “People used the tickets over the weekend to bring their children and all their kits.”
Wagner’s verdict is a little ambiguous. While the 9-euro ticket is encouraging for more people to use public transport, he criticized the project’s financial support: Low ticket prices – but no fees for extra staff, buses or trains. With that in mind, he does not see how the plan will continue after August. Not at least 9 euros per ticket.
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