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Summer of cheap fares in Germany has now ended [1]

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Date: 2022-08-29

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/6/2/2101936/-Germany-turning-lemons-into-lemonade

Follow up to my earlier diary on Germany’s plan to deal with gas prices due to the Russian war by offering cheap fares on its train/bus systems – now that the 9 Euro passes are ending at the end of Aug.

After this 3 month experiment on making public transport practically free :

Cons:Trains/buses were packed to the point of turning people away

Pro: increased volume was expected, but it exceeded even the most optimistic projections

Despite the fact that about a full quarter of Germany’s population bought tickets during the first month of the promotion, the passenger surge has turned out to be less problematic than many anticipated.

A recent poll conducted for Der Spiegel, a German newsmagazine, found 55 percent of all Germans in favor of extending the program, with 34 percent against.

Con: lack of staff for trains/buses/travel ticket folks impacted comfort of travel

Pro: depending on region more than a 25% increase in ridership, even in rural areas went up more than 10%

Con: at 9 Euros the system didn’t break even, so there is a cost being picked up by the government — different articles had different amounts… so at this time lets go with its not a small number.

Pro: since they are trying to help with inflation, the 9 Euro cost is gone, but they are planning the new ticket prices will be cheaper than the passes originally cost, just more than the 9 Euro. Final cost still in the air, but it was so popular it is now part of varies political parties’ platforms with their proposed ticket prices and how government will pay for it…the Green party of course is proposing the cheapest option of a 365 Euro annual pass.

Pro: car congestion in Munich dropped 3%

Pro: 22% of the folks surveyed said it was their first time using public transit

Con: didn’t seem to have an impact on foreign tourist

Pro: Increased in-country tourism was huge, many Germans saying it was their first vacation in a couple of years (due to covid/cost)

Pro: A study of air quality over the summer for the University of Potsdam's Center for Economic Policy Analysis showed a "substantial fall in the air quality index of more than 6%."

Author Niklas Gohl told CNN that the effect was "most pronounced in urban agglomerations and areas with a strong public transport network." And he said it bodes well for the future.

Con: the program has ended, and the new pricing structure, and proposed new routes/buses are not in place yet..

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/8/29/2119503/-Summer-of-cheap-fares-in-Germany-has-now-ended

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