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Mobility: 49-euro ticket: agreement demanded by the federal and state governments

Mobility: 49-euro ticket: agreement demanded by the federal and state governments

Do the federal and state governments put the “penalty kick” in for the 49-euro ticket? As is often the case, it’s about the money. The Association of German Transport Companies warns of the consequences.

Shortly before their deliberations, transport associations called on the federal and state governments to reach an agreement in the dispute over the financing of local transport. The planned 49-euro ticket is also linked to this.

“We finally need a viable solution from the state leaders and the federal government for the overall financing of our industry,” said the general manager of the Association of German Transport Companies, Oliver Wolff, on Tuesday. “We are already seeing the first cost-related restrictions on bus and train services, and there will soon be cancellations across the board.” The Pro-Rail Alliance spoke of a directional decision for the mobility of the future.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the heads of government of the federal states will meet on Wednesday to discuss financial issues. It is also about a 49-euro ticket and permanently more money for local public transport (ÖPNV).

The federal government rejects further demands

The federal states have made an increase in regionalization funds by 1.5 billion euros from this year on condition that they co-finance a 49-euro ticket. The federal states use the regionalization funds to order train and bus connections from the transport companies. In addition, according to the ideas of the federal states, the federal government should increase the funds in 2022 and 2023 by 1.65 billion euros each due to the increased energy prices. The federal government has rejected the demands of the states. Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) sees little leeway in the federal budget.

“Public transport cannot be financed in the long term simply by agreeing on a nationwide ticket,” said Wolff. “It would be completely absurd if a nationwide climate ticket were introduced, and at the same time the scope of public transport services has to be significantly reduced because nobody takes the cost developments into account.”

The managing director of the Pro-Rail Alliance, Dirk Flege, said: “If the regionalization funds for the federal states are not significantly increased at the same time, then the 49-euro ticket will not come. The federal government must now clearly commit itself to using the funds for an expansion of public transport will increase.” The tax estimate has shown that the federal government has plenty of scope for appropriate financing of public transport. “Now it’s a question of political will to get down to business with the commitment to climate-friendly mobility.”

Is “penalty” sunk?

In mid-October, the federal and state transport ministers agreed in principle on a 49-euro ticket as the successor to the 9-euro ticket from the summer. The nationwide ticket is scheduled to start on January 1st.

The chair of the state department heads, Bremen’s Senator Maike Schaefer (Greens), had said that the ball was back in the field of the prime ministers’ conference. “She can now sink this penalty and make the whole thing a success.”

The deputy FDP parliamentary group leader Carina Konrad called on the states to make concessions. You shouldn’t block a cheap local transport ticket “out of defiance” and a lack of will to modernize. “The tax surpluses in the state budgets also show that a lack of funds cannot be a reason for failure.”

Managing Director Antje von Broock said for the Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland) that a 49-euro ticket would be a good offer for parts of the population. “In order for everyone to be able to use public transport, it must be supplemented by significantly cheaper social tariffs.” Scholz must enable an expansion of public transport with a clear commitment to increasing regionalization funds.

Source: Stern

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