Due to personnel and energy costs: bus and rail travel will be more expensive in the new year

PUBLIC TRANSPORT - Due to personnel and energy costs: bus and rail travel will be more expensive in the new year

In many regions, local public transport will once again become more expensive in the new year. Several transport associations, especially large ones, are increasing fares as of January 1, according to an analysis of around a dozen associations by the German Press Agency. These include the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB), the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) and the Münchner Verkehrsverbund (MVV). Other transport associations have already increased their prices this year, while others plan to decide in the spring.

The most significant price increases among the associations surveyed are in the Augsburg Transport and Tariff Association (AVV). According to the AVV, bus and train tickets will cost an average of 12.7 percent more from January 1. A one-way ticket there will then cost 1.90 euros, which compares favorably with other areas. However, it is difficult to compare the individual fares because the networks vary in size and density.

Fares are also rising significantly in North Rhine-Westphalia: in the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg (VRS) by an average of 10.4 percent, in the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) by 9.4 percent. In the VRR, the cheapest one-way ticket will cost 3.30 euros in future, the most expensive 17.90 euros.

Higher costs for personnel and energy

The fare increases are always justified by the increased costs for the companies, especially for energy and personnel. Those responsible at Verkehrsverbund Mittelthüringen (VMT), for example, describe the situation as dramatic. No price adjustments are due there in January, as the cut-off date for this is traditionally August 1 at VMT. "But we will have to deal with it," said Managing Director Christoph Heuing when asked.

In Berlin and Brandenburg, prices will also rise on January 1, by an average of 6.7 percent. The most recent price increase was only eight months ago. The VBB had postponed it from January to April this year. Now the association is returning to its usual rhythm. The VBB also refers to increased costs for personnel, fuel and energy. Großraumverkehr Hannover (GVH) is also increasing ticket prices, on average by 7 percent as of January 1.

Moderate public transport costs in Munich

By contrast, the price adjustments in the Munich Transport and Tariff Association (MVV) are significantly lower. The shareholders decided on an average price adjustment of 4.3 percent in January. "This is one of the lowest price increases in public transport in Germany this year," the association announced. "Up to 10.8 percent fare increases would be necessary to compensate the transport companies in the MVV for the increased costs," it said.

Public transport in Germany is financed on the one hand by so-called regionalization funds. The other half comes from passenger revenue for the transport companies. It is the only screw that the companies themselves can turn to compensate for rising costs.

The fare increases always relate only to the fare offers of the respective associations. The price of the Deutschlandticket remains unaffected for the time being. The subscription, which allows holders to travel nationwide on local and regional transport, will continue to cost 49 euros per month. The season ticket can be canceled monthly.

However, a price increase is not unlikely in the coming year. The federal and state governments are compensating for losses incurred by transport companies as a result of the Deutschlandticket. This year, they are also covering any additional costs in equal shares. However, next year it should also be possible to offset these costs by increasing the price of the Deutschlandticket.

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1. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg (VRS) and the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) are among the transport associations increasing fares in January, with the VRR seeing a 9.4% increase.
2. The Münchner Verkehrsverbund (MVV) in Munich, however, is implementing a lower price adjustment of 4.3% in January, making public transport costs in the city somewhat more moderate.
3. Despite the lower increase in Munich, transport companies are still facing rising costs for personnel and energy, with the VMT in Germany describing the situation as dramatic.
4. The Verkehrsverbund Mittelthüringen (VMT) will not adjust its prices until August, but Managing Director Christoph Heuing acknowledges that they will have to deal with the increased costs at some point.
5. In Berlin and Brandenburg, consumers can expect an average price increase of 6.7% on January 1, following an earlier price adjustment only eight months ago.
6. The German Press Agency reports that several transport associations in Germany are increasing fares, including the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB) and the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR), as well as the Münchner Verkehrsverbund (MVV) in Munich.
7. The cost of the Deutschlandticket, which allows travel nationwide on local and regional transport, remains unaffected for the time being, but a price increase is not unlikely in the coming year as the federal and state governments consider offsetting costs by raising the price of the subscription.

Source: www.stern.de