Agreement on cheaper Germany ticket for students
The federal and state governments have agreed on a cheaper Deutschlandticket for students. The North Rhine-Westphalian Transport Minister Oliver Krischer (Greens), Chairman of the Conference of Transport Ministers of the federal states, spoke of a breakthrough on Monday evening when asked by the Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Around three million students could now receive a semester ticket for 29.40 euros per month based on the Deutschlandticket. The uniform nationwide semester ticket could start in the summer semester of 2024, provided that the General Student Committees conclude the necessary contracts with the transport companies quickly.
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing said: "I am delighted that we were able to reach an agreement with the federal states today on a Deutschlandticket for students. Now that the Conference of Minister Presidents has finally confirmed the funding issues relating to the Deutschlandticket, nothing stood in the way of an agreement on the semester ticket. This means that students can now also benefit from this attractive nationwide offer - and at a very reasonable price."
Isabel Cademartori, transport policy spokesperson for the SPD parliamentary group, said: "The Germany-wide semester ticket in the solidarity model is coming." It will cost 29.40 euros, which corresponds to 60 percent of the standard ticket price. The federal and state governments have cleared the way for a further increase in the number of regular season ticket holders. "And without any significant additional costs for the federal and state governments." Solidarity model means that all students contribute to financing an affordable public transport ticket.
Demand for price stability
Madita Lachetta, member of the federal executive board of theJuso university groups, said that student bodies had terminated their semester ticket contracts in recent months for fear of lawsuits. "As a result of the introduction of the 49-euro Deutschlandticket, many students are currently without a semester ticket." The student bodies are now free to offer the new service or negotiate alternative regional solutions. Lachetta called for price stability for the Deutschlandticket. If the standard price increases, the price of the discounted ticket for students would also rise.
Against the background of a financial dispute, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the state premiers had agreed that the Deutschlandticket for buses and trains in local and regional transport would continue to exist. The big question, however, is how long the ticket will continue to be offered at 49 euros per month or whether it will soon become more expensive. The transport ministers are to develop a concept for a ticket that is secure in the long term.
Wissing said that for the federal states responsible for public transport, the agreement on the semester ticket meant secure income, which would help to keep the ticket price as low as possible. "Because with the Deutschlandticket semester ticket, we are binding a young customer group to public transport in the long term."
The introduction of the cheaper Deutschlandticket for students could significantly reduce the traffic congestion in German cities, as more students will have access to affordable public transportation. The Germany-wide semester ticket at a price of 29.40 euros per month is expected to encourage students to use public transport instead of relying on private vehicles, thereby promoting environmental sustainability.
Source: www.dpa.com
