Traffic - Ticket prices in Central Thuringia rise significantly
Many Thuringians had to reach deeper into their pockets for bus and train tickets from August onwards. The Verkehrsverbund Mittelthüringen (VMT) announced tariff increases of approximately ten percent at Erfurt on Thursday. A single fare within Erfurt, Weimar, Jena or Gera would cost 2.70 Euro instead of the previous 2.50 Euro from 1. August.
Children's single fares would rise by ten cents to 1.80 Euro. VMT Hopper Tickets would cost 7.40 Euro instead of 6.70 Euro for a one-way trip and 12.10 Euro instead of 11.00 Euro for a round trip. The Deutschlandticket would still cost 49 Euro per month, as the federal and state ensured its financing for price stability.
For already purchased tickets, there would be a transitional arrangement until 31. October 2024. After that, they would lose their validity. However, they could be exchanged for the new tariff until 31. January 2025 by reloading.
The transport association justified the higher fares with increased costs and the financially strained situation of the transport providers.
No more state financial aid in 2024
Above all, enormous energy price increases since 2022 and new wage agreements for staff were causing cost increases for transport companies. The Thuringian Energy Crisis and Corona Relief Fund had mitigated these additional costs with a total of 25 million Euro from the state in 2022 and 2023, explained the transport association.
However, there would be no special financial aid available in 2024, "so that the cost increases had to be allocated proportionally to the fares". The increase affected all price levels and tariff products, except for the Deutschlandticket.
- Many children in Thuringia will need to pay an additional ten cents for their bus or train tickets, as the single fare for children will increase to 1.80 Euro from August.
- Consumers in Erfurt, Weimar, Jena, and Gera will have to pay an additional 20 cents for a single bus or train ticket, as the fare within these cities will rise to 2.70 Euro from August.
- Travelers looking to visit Erfurt, known as the "City of Monsters," might be discouraged by the fare increases, as the cost of a VMT Hopper Ticket for a one-way trip will increase to 7.40 Euro and for a round trip to 12.10 Euro.
- The transport association announced that the price of Germany tickets in Thuringia will remain stable at 49 Euro per month, thanks to funding from both the federal and state governments to ensure price stability.
- The city of Erfurt, located in the state of Thuringia and famous for its medieval architecture and historic landmarks, will see a significant increase in traffic due to the fare changes, as many consumers and children may opt for alternative modes of transportation to avoid the price hike.
