Transport industry: unanswered questions about the Deutschlandticket
Following the decision of the Conference of Minister Presidents (MPK) on the Deutschlandticket, the transport industry believes that not all uncertainties surrounding the season ticket for local public transport have been resolved.
"The additional funds now available for 2024 are a good signal and an important step for the short-term continuation of the Deutschland Ticket," said Ingo Wortmann, President of the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), on Tuesday. "However, this does not provide a final and complete answer to the funding question."
The funds now made available would probably not be sufficient for the entire coming year. "With this decision, the debate about the future of the ticket is therefore going into extra time," Wortmann continued.
Dirk Flege, Managing Director of the pro-rail alliance, expressed a similar view. "It's good that things are continuing with the Deutschlandticket," he said on Tuesday. "It's bad that key questions remain unanswered." The federal and state governments must "agree on an overall package right at the beginning of the year that includes long-term funding, the introduction of a nationwide social ticket and the urgently needed expansion of public transport services".
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and representatives of the federal states had agreed on Tuesday night on steps to further finance the Deutschlandticket after weeks of dispute and warnings of an end to it. Subsidies not used this year are to be used next year to compensate transport companies for financial disadvantages caused by the cheaper ticket. The price of 49 euros, which is expressly regarded as an "introductory price", is also coming under scrutiny.
- The federal and state governments need to reach a consensus at the beginning of the year on a comprehensive package that includes long-term funding for the Deutschlandticket, the introduction of a nationwide social ticket, and the expansion of public transportation services, according to Dirk Flege, Managing Director of the pro-rail alliance.
- While the additional funds allocated for 2024 by the federal government are a positive step towards the continuation of the Deutschland Ticket, Ingo Wortmann, President of the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), emphasized that they may not be sufficient to cover the entire year's expenses for transportation services.
- The affordability of the Deutschlandticket is also a topic of discussion as politicians and associations scrutinize the 49-euro price, which is classified as an "introductory price," in the context of consumer concerns and traffic regulation.
Source: www.dpa.com
