Germany: €9 a month for 3 months from June 1

[LNW-GW Joint]

News sites are reporting a package of energy cost mitigations agreed by the federal government in Germany today.
As far as I can see the public transport offer is a €9 a month ticket for 3 months, but it isn't clear what the rules are, which services you can use etc.
Also whether the offer is available to non-residents.

Germany lowers petrol and public transport prices to relief citizens

www.cleanenergywire.org

Germany’s government coalition has decided a wide-ranging relief package to help shield citizens from rising energy costs exacerbated by Russia’s war against Ukraine. The government plans to introduce a 300-euro tax bonus for employed persons, lower the energy tax on fuels to the European minimum and offer 9-euro-per-month public transport tickets for the next 90 days. Finance minister Christian Lindner said the government has to temporarily shield the population suffering from the rising energy costs.

 

[30907]

News sites are reporting a package of energy cost mitigations agreed by the federal government in Germany today.
As far as I can see the public transport offer is a €9 a month ticket for 3 months, but it isn't clear what the rules are, which services you can use etc.
Also whether the offer is available to non-residents.

Germany lowers petrol and public transport prices to relief citizens

www.cleanenergywire.org

The only other detail (from Deutsche Welle in English!) is that it will be funded centrally through the regional (?Land) authorities. There is a 5-page-and-rising thread on Drehscheibe-online.de which I can't face ploughing through...
Almost certainly IC/ICE trains are excluded; whether it will allow cross-boundary travel isn't clear - indeed, whether it covers more than a conventional A-B season.

 

[U-Bahnfreund]

Noone knows yet what that ticket is supposed to be, it's even unclear if it is €9 for 90 days or €9 a month for three months (= €27). Transport companies were as surprised with the announcement as anyone else. Here's MVB, the Magdeburg bus and tram operator:

https://twitter.com/mvbnet/status/1507006250273411072

You have questions. So do we. It will take some time before we can answer them.

Today, the Federal Government has passed a relief package - also to our surprise. Among other things, the introduction of a public transport ticket for 90 days for 9 euros per month is planned. The federal states are to receive funds for this.

How this is to be implemented, what it means for people already holding monthly passes and other questions are currently unanswered. We ask for your understanding that we cannot tell you anything about this yet. We will inform you as soon as possible.

Thank you very much!

(translation by me)

 

[SeanG]

The question is whether this just applies to German residents, or whether anyone (ie tourists) can buy one. I suspect the former.

 

[Starmill]

Noone knows yet what that ticket is supposed to be, it's even unclear if it is €9 for 90 days or €9 a month for three months (= €27). Transport companies were as surprised with the announcement as anyone else. Here's MVB, the Magdeburg bus and tram operator:

https://twitter.com/mvbnet/status/1507006250273411072

(translation by me)

Thank you for translating that - it's very amusing!

 

[dutchflyer]

Just heard it 5 mins ago on german TV/news: NOTHIng is decided yet, many more options are open, its a kind of ǵive and take´ in the ruling govmt (thats all coalitions here-not 1 party ruling) for the compensation on high fuel prices to carholders for those unlucky enough to not have that precious thing of german craftmanship. There was also talk of a free month added to those who have already a current season.
Personally I somehow suspect the last 0 was dropped as they would imitate Austria with its 3€/day Austria-Climate-Ticket (but buy at least 365 days). Thats a kind of ´green party´ holy grail.

 

[yorksrob]

Is it still the case that a German season ticket also acts as a year long nationwide Rover ?

 

[Starmill]

Is it still the case that a German season ticket also acts as a year long nationwide Rover ?

Not the sort of season ticket that most people will use, but yes a BahnCard 100 permits unlimited travel at €4,027 / year, which right now is approximately £3,357.

 

[yorksrob]

Not the sort of season ticket that most people will use, but yes a BahnCard 100 permits unlimited travel at €4,027 / year, which right now is approximately £3,357.

Still more than my metrocard then !

I could imagine that a good proportion of the (admittedly dwindling) season tickets in this country would be a similar value. Might be a good idea to attract people who are working fewer days a week, and for whom a season is now marginal, to buy one !

 

[Starmill]

Still more than my metrocard then !

I could imagine that a good proportion of the (admittedly dwindling) season tickets in this country would be a similar value. Might be a good idea to attract people who are working fewer days a week, and for whom a season is now marginal, to buy one !

Most people will use a considerably cheaper tarif set by their local transport association, which should cover all local forms of transport including buses and trams as well as suburban and regional trains (though mostly not intercity trains). For example Berlin zones A+B is €761 / year, or approximately £634.

 

[yorksrob]

Most people will use a considerably cheaper tarif set by their local transport association, which should cover all local forms of transport including buses and trams as well as suburban and regional trains (though mostly not intercity trains). For example Berlin zones A+B is €761 / year, or approximately £634.

It's interesting that you say that. I decided to renew my WY metrocard, not just on the commute, but on other journeys e.g for shopping that I make.

That doesn't negate the need for better value national travel though.

 

[valedave]

Further details on this released today: https://www.n-tv.de/politik/9-Euro-Ticket-kommt-im-Juni-und-gilt-bundesweit-article23260739.html

€9 per month from 1 June, for three months. Good thing they've dropped the 9 für 90 thing, as that was very confusing.
It will seemingly be valid in every single regional train, bus, tram, whatever in the entire country, which is actually kinda of insane considering the ridiculous patchwork quilt of Verkehrsverbünde in this country. In my town tickets for the Stadtbus aren't valid in the Regionalbusse even though they serve the same stops and cost the same! They're going to get the fright of their lives.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Further details on this released today: https://www.n-tv.de/politik/9-Euro-Ticket-kommt-im-Juni-und-gilt-bundesweit-article23260739.html

€9 per month from 1 June, for three months. Good thing they've dropped the 9 für 90 thing, as that was very confusing.
It will seemingly be valid in every single regional train, bus, tram, whatever in the entire country, which is actually kinda of insane considering the ridiculous patchwork quilt of Verkehrsverbünde in this country. In my town tickets for the Stadtbus aren't valid in the Regionalbusse even though they serve the same stops and cost the same! They're going to get the fright of their lives.

But still has to go through the Bundestag.
Season ticket holders will get a refund on the normal price - what a mess.
Apparently not available on ICE/IC/EC services, so you can't actually go very far in a day.
But 25p/day is not a bad fare for a go-anywhere anytime ticket.
I wonder if our "Shapps" special offer with get anywhere close to that?
It will cost the German state €2.5 billion.

 

[valedave]

It will be available on declassified ICs approved for regional use.

Theoretically you could do the length and breadth of the country, just hopping from RE to RE. Some REs now run quite long routes - you could do Munich-Leipzig with one change in Nuremberg for example.

 

[rvdborgt]

Apparently not available on ICE/IC/EC services, so you can't actually go very far in a day.

You might be surprised. You can actually do most journeys within one day.

 

[k-c-p]

This thing is an example of what you get, when a coalition goverment of 3 parties with very different views has to agree. The liberal party "defends" car owners and got a reduction at the pump (albeit in a different way it envisioned), so our labour party (SPD) and the Green party had to do something for public transportation. I guess the 9€ price tag came from the idea of having a price less than 10€. I am surpised it is not a 9,99€ ticket .

Transport agencies were lobbying for free travel for 3 month as it would save the hassle of having to integrate yet another fare into their sales channels (and they could skip ticket checks for a few month). The prive is one reason why the whole show is delayed into June. Free travel could ahve come into fruition faster. But the liberals hold the position of the finance secretary, maybe they vetoed it to avoid the impression that transit users would get more than drivers. The party also block a temporary speed restriction on motorways, which would save gas and reduct CO2 emissions by claiming that we do have enough signs to post such a restriction along the roads. It seems its officials do no know that generell restriction (like 50 km/hi wihtin a city) are just written into law - no need for a sign along the road

The fact that season ticket holders get a refund, is ok. I have a season ticket for 50€ a month to get around my city. I think if I had bought a single ticket for each trip I did in the last two years, I would have spent less than 50€ in total. Nevertheless, I have kept my ticket because I know that running trains, trams and busses costs money. But I would felt a bit cheated, if this ticket would only be targeted at new customers.
Some state have given goodies to season ticket holder during the pandemic: In my state of Baden Württemberg I got 6 weeks of free travel on regional trains, busses and tram all over the state during the sommer holidays in 2020 and 2021. And one month of the season ticket was refunded as well.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Seems absurdly cheap, 9€ a month, even 9€ a day would be very cheap. Might be very popular, if lots of trains are packed traveling could be unpleasant.

I guess the parties are trying to be "for" rail (greens) and "for" motoring (fdp), instead of "against".

 

[duesselmartin]

Seems absurdly cheap, 9€ a month, even 9€ a day would be very cheap. Might be very popular, if lots of trains are packed traveling could be unpleasant.

I guess the parties are trying to be "for" rail (greens) and "for" motoring (fdp), instead of "against".

that is my fear too. When the weekend Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket was introduced in the 1990s trains left people behind on the platform.
Many people will say, why should I travel say, Hamburg to Cologne on an IC/ICE if its "free" on the regional?

 

[the sniper]

Sounds like a recipe for chaos, particularly the REs in the summer...

 

[rvdborgt]

Sounds like a recipe for chaos, particularly the REs in the summer...

Yes indeed, chaos as in the "better" SWT days, only worse.

 

[johncrossley]

Can anyone take advantage of this offer, for example visitors from abroad?

 

[Cloud Strife]

Can anyone take advantage of this offer, for example visitors from abroad?

Looks like it. If it's true, then I'm planning a weekend trip around Saxony.

 

[Watershed]

The party also block a temporary speed restriction on motorways, which would save gas and reduct CO2 emissions by claiming that we do have enough signs to post such a restriction along the roads. It seems its officials do no know that generell restriction (like 50 km/hi wihtin a city) are just written into law - no need for a sign along the road

I suspect that's just an excuse to avoid speed limits being imposed. Because they know just as well as everyone else that a limit, even if officially "temporary", would never be revoked.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Free local transport has been tried in a few places. Travel for 9€ a month is nearly free, I hope passenger numbers will be collected to see what happens, this is a bit like a big field trial for (nearly) free travel.

I think that some routes will be even busier, best to avoid them if possible (Hamburg - Sylt, Berlin - Stralsund and doubtless many more), but there are many lightly-used rural lines, and lots of rural buses which are only full at school start and end times.

I would be wary of traveling to Germany especially for (part of) the 9 for 90 period, we just do not know how full trains and buses shall be. Compared to the weekend ticket, this time might not be so hectic because it lasts 92 days.

I think the weekend ticket marketing/pricing was good, trains were packed, but most people got to travel. Lots of media coverage, and people still remember it decades later.

Actually the whole thing is of course not 9€ for 90, rather "27€ for 92".

 

[AY1975]

It appears that the German federal government has announced a 9 Euro monthly ticket, known as "9 für 90" (9 for 90), valid in 2nd class on local and regional trains and all other forms of local public transport that will be available from the beginning of June until the end of August. It was originally only going to be available online, but apparently it will now also be available from ticket offices and machines.

I'm not sure whether it will only be valid on DB regional trains or also on those of other operators, though I presume the latter. I've also not seen any reference to any time restrictions such as not being valid before 09.00 on weekdays. It is also unclear whether it will be valid to any destinations just across the border in neighbouring countries such as Salzburg or Strasbourg.

I would guess that this offer is intended to boost revenue and tourism after the Covid pandemic, and no doubt a lot of commuters will take advantage of it as well. I understand that existing season ticket holders whose tickets are valid at this time will be offered three-month extensions on their existing tickets.

Clearly these tickets will offer considerable savings compared to existing offers such as the countrywide "Quer-durchs-Land Ticket" and the "Ländertickets". However, I can see it becoming a victim of its own success, especially in popular tourist areas. DB and other regional operators may put on extra trains and/or strengthen existing ones where possible, but their staff and rolling stock resources are obviously limited.

No doubt many cost-conscious travellers will welcome the offer, but those with more money to spend might still prefer to avoid the crowds by getting 1st class Ländertickets where they are available (for example the Länder of Bayern and Baden-Württemberg offer 1st class versions of their Ländertickets but Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt and Thüringen do not).

For those of you who can read German, if you do a search for "9 für 90" you will find several articles on this (and even if you can't read German you can use an online translator tool). Here is one such article, from the WirtschaftsWoche: https://www.wiwo.de/politik/deutsch...ltig-ist-und-wer-dafuer-bezahlt/28252416.html

"Wo das 9-Euro-Ticket gültig ist und wer dafür bezahlt
Es ist ein großer Feldversuch, wie es Bundesverkehrsminister Volker Wissing nennt. Sorgen günstigere Tickets für einen Ansturm auf Busse und Bahnen – und wann kommt das Ticket? Die wichtigsten Antworten im Überblick.

Wann kommt das 9-Euro-Ticket, wo kann man es nutzen?
Ab Anfang Juni bis Ende August sollen Fahrgäste bundesweit für 9 Euro pro Monat im Nah- und Regionalverkehr in der zweiten Klasse fahren können. Ausgenommen sind der Fernverkehr der Deutschen Bahn AG, also zum Beispiel ICE oder IC. Das Ticket soll online erhältlich sein, dazu soll es auch eine gemeinsame Online-Plattform der Verkehrsunternehmen geben. Kunden sollen es aber auch über Fahrkartenautomaten und Schalter kaufen können."

 

[dutchflyer]

Somehow I think this was already posted here, but I could not find quickly that thread.
As of yet/today, technically/legally speaking still undecided as parliament has to decide over it on 20/5. But anyone expect it to go through. Most of the major Verkehrsverbünde have it already with many if/when/was on their sites.
It replaces offers last summers that were mostly aiming continuous season-ticket holders to suss all the difficulties during covid and keep them as customer.
It is indeed an incredible bargain and many sources are full of fears it will only turn away prospective clients due to severe overcrowding, police coming to clear trains over-full and more not very nice things. As was also the case when many moons ago there was the then new weekendticket for 15DEM.
It is even cheaper as a normal dayticket in many areas-but it will be nation wide valid.
It remains Germany so there will be 10000s of but/if/when/how rulings and local adaptations. Will be sold as app, as online ticket and if feasibly at short notice via machines-strictly personal and exactly only till last day of THAT month, not from day x till x-1. Some of the Verbünde concerned have already published it will be valid till only last stop before border and not into the neighbor country, whereas normal tickets would cover that.
Existing season ticket holders on subscription simply get reimbursed or only charged for 9 € and their tickets will also be valid nation-wide.
NOte on how this amount apparently came into being: when it was first launched in governemtal circles (where the Green party is in) it was named as the 9.00 (nine o ´ clock) ticket that is widespread-at lower price (compared to off-peak in UK). Of course ministers never use transit, so it was not understood and hence became a ticket for 9 €. Many green parties in EUR promote a 1/2/3 €/day season for local/provincial/national transport so it should have been 90/month=similar to the new Austrian Klima Ticket=also a year round all country season.
HINT for those of you considering: you can easily plan trips on bahn.de by using the ..nur nahverkehr.. button on the site-it will then exclude the IC/ICE etc trains where ticket is not valid on. Bahn.de also covers most of local stops in the various multitude of ´Verkehrsverbünde´. Nahverkehr also covers about any of the normal links to airports-in case you come over for a quickie and all in style thus use a 9,99 booking on Eezieryan or the like in stead of expensive EuroStar.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Here’s hoping it’ll be ready for my trip to Düsseldorf/Wuppertal/Köln in June

 

[duesselmartin]

yes, its not legal yet although the public pressure is too big to cancel it now.
It will be valid on all regional transport, not just DB including Buses and Trams.

 

[AY1975]

It is already mentioned on the DB website, though.

Maybe they should also have done a first class version, even if it were only for a week or two weeks rather than a month, for, say, 15 to 20 Euros or even 30 Euros. I suppose they might think even that could end up being too popular, though, and it could unfairly limit seating capacity for first class passengers with more expensive tickets and who are using local and regional trains to connect with longer distance trains (IC, ICE etc).

 

[miklcct]

How is their regional trains compared to ours around London? Any comparable example of what constitutes a regional train if their classification system is applied to the SWR network?