The announcement by the federal government to introduce a 9-euro monthly ticket for local transport met with a positive response in Hanover and Bremen. However, the Hanover region, as the provider of the transport association GVH and the transport association Bremen-Niedersachsen (VBN), still see a number of open questions.
Regional President Steffen Krach said he very much welcomed the 9-euro ticket. “For me, however, the question arises as to what comes next. If we really want to create a mobility turnaround, we need cheap public transport in the long term. And money must be available for this in the long term,” said the SPD politician. Krach also referred to plans by the Hanover region to introduce a 365-euro annual ticket.
VBN Managing Director Rainer Counen said he sees the ticket as a relief measure and as an incentive to use the bus and train. However, information on implementation was still missing. He described an increase in the number of passengers with the ticket as desirable, but there are also countervailing effects – in particular due to Corona: “High incidences still stand in the way of the use of buses and trains, mobile working has eliminated the need for travel” – on the other hand the high prices for petrol and diesel could lead to greater use of local transport. “It is therefore difficult at the moment to assess how user behavior is developing.”
Both Krach and Counen also advocated that existing customers should also benefit from the discount. In addition, existing subscriptions could be extended by three months or differences paid out, suggested Region President Krach. VBN Managing Director Counen emphasized that existing customers can be taken into account because there are usually automated invoice runs that can be adjusted.
The federal government had surprisingly announced the 9-euro monthly ticket limited to three months as a relief measure in view of high energy prices. On the other hand, the conference of transport ministers proposed a zero tariff on Friday, because that would keep the costs for the transport associations lower. This recommendation should be examined in a federal-state working group, said Bremen’s Senator for Mobility, Maike Schaefer (Greens).
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