This exceptional measure, which will be available from June to August, is already meeting with great success among users.
It is a symbolic decision for public transport that has just been made in Germany. From June 1st to August 31st, our neighbors across the Rhine can benefit from a new offer that allows access to many rail networks for just a few euros a month.
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In detail, for only 9 euros per month, users can use the entire regional transport network as well as buses, subways and trams in the main cities of the country. There is currently no sales cap set. This measure, which is also expected to cost 2.5 billion euros, is offset by a number of other measures aimed at limiting the impact of rising prices on Germans’ portfolios, such as paying a bonus of 300 euros for employees or reducing the mineral oil tax .
There are three goals for the governing coalition. First, prop up household purchasing power while inflation weighs on citizens’ accounts across the European Union. Secondly, to reduce the use of cars and the country’s dependence on Russian oil and petroleum products. Germany is particularly dependent on Russia for its supply and has seen energy prices spike.
In addition, the federal government wants to encourage Germans to use the train, a more environmentally friendly means of transport, in order to meet their ecological obligations. The coalition wants to continue its efforts to democratize the use of public transport in order to achieve the ambitious goals it has set itself: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65% by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality in the transport sector by 2045. According to the Federal Environment Agency, a regional train also emits 2.3 times less CO2 than a car.
An instant success, a cause for concern
The operation, launched on May 23, is already a success. In just one day, Deutsche Bahn’s site, Deutsche SNCF, recorded 50,000 online ticket purchases. For their part, Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe, which operates regional trains in the city of Berlin, sold 130,000 in three days.
The particularly positive reception by consumers raises some concerns, especially in relation to financing. In addition, many consumer associations have pointed out that this decision could lead to a massive increase in passengers on the already largely overcrowded regional trains during the holidays. It remains to be seen whether these concerns will materialize in the coming weeks.