If the set climate protection goals are to be achieved, Germany cannot avoid expanding its public transport offer. A report shows what that will cost.
According to an expert report, local transport companies in Germany will need an additional 48 billion euros by 2030 in order to achieve the EU climate targets.
This money is necessary “to finance significantly more public transport, including more staff, vehicles and new concepts, nationwide,” said Lars Wagner, spokesman for the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) on Friday for the German press agency in Berlin. The numbers come from an opinion that is due to be published early next week. The «Spiegel» had previously reported on it.
According to the paper, the range of bus and train services in the cities and in the countryside must be expanded by a quarter in order to achieve the reduction in CO2 emissions prescribed by the federal government. As a result, the costs increased by 89 percent compared to 2018 by the end of the decade. The additional expected fare income could only compensate about half of the money required. Therefore, according to the experts, federal and state funds could be increased. In addition, additional money could be earned in the municipal sector with the help of parking space management or a city toll.
“In order to achieve the EU climate protection target of minus 53 percent CO2 for Germany and to ensure equality of living conditions in cities and in the countryside, the entire public transport system must be expanded massively and quickly everywhere,” said Wagner. In doing so, the rural area must be given special attention: “If there is more offer there overall, people would also tend to leave their cars there.”
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
