The energy crisis is also causing financial difficulties for public transport companies. The federal states therefore want to agree on a common demand for the federal government. And what follows the 9 euro ticket?
How can the transport associations cope with the sharp rise in energy costs? This question is the focus of a special conference of the transport ministers of the federal states this Friday. The transport companies are currently confronted with enormous cost increases as a result of the energy crisis. The state politicians want to discuss in a video conference whether the federal states can agree on a common demand for the Federal Ministry of Transport on this issue. Because buses and trains should maintain their services despite the increased prices for fuel and electricity.
The incumbent chairwoman of the conference of transport ministers is Bremen’s transport senator Maike Schaefer (Greens). Your spokesman pointed out that the transport companies had to accept sharp increases in costs as a result of the energy crisis in the past few months. An aid fund would be conceivable for support, comparable to the Corona rescue package. Among other things, it would have to be clarified how the funds would be distributed in the event of such an “energy rescue package”, said the spokesman.
Decisions only in October
Another topic of the video conference is likely to be a possible successor to the 9-euro ticket that expires at the end of August. However, decisions on this issue are not to be expected today, it said in advance. The ministers from the federal states only want to deal with this at their regular meeting in October. The cheap ticket for local public transport, which was started as a relief project for citizens, is considered a great success. A successor model is now being discussed.
Baden-Württemberg’s Minister of Transport, Winfried Hermann, initially considers a nationwide significant improvement in basic funding to be a priority. “For us, the most important thing is that the regionalization funds are significantly increased so that the federal states can order enough trains for regional rail traffic,” said the Green politician. “A cheap ticket would be of no use if the countries were forced to cancel trains because energy and personnel costs are rising,” explained the Green politician.
The Association of Towns and Municipalities is calling on the ministers to agree on a successor solution for the expiring 9-euro ticket. “The goal should be a permanently cheap uniform ticket, such as a 365-euro annual ticket,” said the general manager Gerd Landsberg, the “Augsburger Allgemeine”. Cities and communities expect the ministers to “finally end the polyphony and agree on a common line on how the turnaround in traffic needs to be pushed forward”. Landsberg said that this includes ending the tariff jungle in public transport.
Source: Stern
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.
