Flatrate 'Germany Ticket' for public transport proves success, third of citizens interested

The flat-rate ticket for nationwide public transport in Germany is proving to be a popular measure that has sparked the interest of almost one-third of all citizens in the country, a survey conducted by customer protection agency vzbv has found. The 'Germany Ticket' was introduced on 1 May. The monthly subscription allows buyers to use interconnected regional public transport systems across the country for 49 euros. Among 14 to 29-year-olds, almost 50 percent said they plan to buy a Germany Ticket. However, nearly one-third of respondents said the ticket is too expensive and 77 percent said the fare should be reduced for families and people with low income. “The Germany Ticket is having a good start,” vzbv’s Ramona Pop said. “Many people are convinced in principle. But in order to enable more people to use it, local public transport must be strengthened and made more reliable,” she argued. “Taking the train has to become a really attractive option.”About seven million people in the country have already bought the ticket. Of them, two million had previously not been public transport subscribers, transport company association VDV said.

The Germany Ticket is supposed to make public transport more attractive and encourage more people to use buses and trains, according to the government. Environmental groups welcomed the ticket’s introduction, but many lamented that the scheme was not using its full potential for achieving a large-scale shift to public transport options. Germany’s mobility sector is considered the country’s “problem child” with respect to climate action, as the sector’s emissions remain stubbornly high.