- Around 137 thousand pupils in Hamburg have already been granted complimentary transit passes.
Just a few days before the holiday wrap-up, around 37,000 students from Hamburg have already secured a complimentary Germany pass. A rep from the Hamburg Public Transport Association (HVV) disclosed this info a week into ticket distribution. Over 100,000 youngsters had previously gotten a discounted student ticket, which will automatically transition to free travel starting September 1st.
This new ticket lets Hamburg students travel across Germany for free. In the HVV, they can already enjoy this perk from next Wednesday. The transportation association has designated the last four days of August as a "goodwill period". As of September 1st, only those who've snagged the free ticket will enjoy free travel. The HVV clarifies this need for ordering: "Only those planning to use it should get a distributed free HVV Germany ticket for students."
210,000 Eligible Recipients
Hamburg's Traffic Senator Anjes Tjarks (Greens) announced: "I'm thrilled we can provide over 210,000 students in Hamburg a wider, more attractive mobility program beginning September 1st." The Senate anticipates that around 168,000 students - roughly 80% of those eligible - will take advantage of this offer, as mentioned in a public statement.
This new policy is predicted to put a nearly 14 million euro strain on the budget this year. For 2023, the Senate estimates, based on the current monthly price of 49 euros for the Germany pass, around 99 million euros will be needed. If more students request the ticket than predicted, the Senate will cover the costs as it reimburses the HVV for each ordered ticket.
The free ticket can only be obtained online. Parents need to order it for kids under 15. Students 16 and above can order it independently, but must provide proof from school.
After securing their free Germany pass, Hamburg students can look forward to enjoying holiday travels without any additional costs. With the new policy in place, more students are expected to take advantage of these holidays, contributing to a significant budget strain for the Senate.
