The German government is seeking to compensate citizens for higher fuel prices for cars and encourage greater use of public transport. For three summer months - in June, July and August 2022 - almost free public transport will be available to Germans and visitors (with the exception of long-distance trains and high-speed trains).
What is a €9 ticket?
The 9-Euro-Ticket is a ticket that entitles you to travel throughout Germany on local/regional metro trains, buses and trams for a whole month. Tickets can be purchased from 23 May on bahn.de, in the DB Navigator app and at ticket offices in stations.
How long does a cheap trip to Berlin take?
The commuter train journey from Utrecht to the German capital takes approximately 11 hours. If you use ICE trains, then this time is almost halved - to about 6 hours.
However, you can go to Cologne with a 9-Euro-Ticket. The trip from Utrecht to Cologne takes about 3 hours, which is only an hour more than using the faster ICE. You can get to Hamburg cheaply in 7,5 hours, and a typical trip takes about 5 hours. At the same time, it is worth considering a significant disadvantage of cheap trips - the need for transfers.
Rationale for the introduction of the 9-Euro-Ticket
The possible introduction of almost free public transport in Germany in the summer began to be discussed as early as March. And finally, the innovation was approved by the German parliament - the federal assembly.
The introduction of a ticket for 9 euros per month for public transport is part of a set of measures to compensate Germans for high fuel prices. The idea is to make public transport practically free so that people leave their car more often. Those who already use public transport will also benefit from this.
Transport Minister Volker Wissing called the €9 ticket an important step towards freedom of movement. According to him, the fact that many are now considering switching to public transport is a victory.
Who is dissatisfied?
However, the 9-Euro-Ticket is not received with enthusiasm by everyone. On the island of Sylt, which is popular with German tourists and can only be reached by train, everyone held their breath. According to local authorities, the island is not ready for even more tourists than usual.
Publication Date: 24.05.2022
