BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – Shortly before their deliberations, transport associations called on the federal and state governments to reach an agreement in the dispute over the financing of local transport. The planned 49-euro ticket is also linked to this.
“We finally need a viable solution from the state leaders and the federal government for the overall financing of our industry,” said the general manager of the Association of German Transport Companies, Oliver Wolff, on Tuesday. “We are already seeing the first cost-related restrictions on bus and train services, and there will soon be cancellations across the board.” The Pro-Rail Alliance spoke of a directional decision for future mobility.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the heads of government of the federal states will meet on Wednesday to discuss financial issues. It is also about a 49-euro ticket and permanently more money for local public transport (ÖPNV).
The federal states have made an increase in regionalization funds by 1.5 billion euros from this year on condition that they co-finance a 49-euro ticket. The federal states use the regionalization funds to order train and bus connections from the transport companies. In addition, according to the ideas of the federal states, the federal government should increase the funds in 2022 and 2023 by 1.65 billion euros each due to the increased energy prices. The federal government has so far rejected the demands of the federal states. Finance Minister Christian Lindner sees little room for maneuver in the federal budget.
“Public transport cannot be financed in the long term simply by agreeing on a nationwide ticket,” said Wolff. “It would be completely absurd if a nationwide climate ticket were introduced, and at the same time the scope of public transport services has to be significantly reduced because nobody takes the cost developments into account.”
The managing director of the Pro-Rail Alliance, Dirk Flege, said: “If the regionalization funds for the federal states are not significantly increased at the same time, then the 49-euro ticket will not come. The federal government must now clearly commit itself to using the funds for an expansion of public transport will increase.” The tax estimate has shown that the federal government has plenty of scope for appropriate financing of public transport. “Now it’s a question of political will to get down to business with the commitment to climate-friendly mobility.”
In mid-October, the federal and state transport ministers agreed in principle on a 49-euro ticket as the successor to the 9-euro ticket from the summer. The nationwide ticket is scheduled to start on January 1st.
The head of the state departments, Bremen’s Senator Maike Schaefer, said the ball was back in the prime ministers’ conference. “She can now sink this penalty and make the whole thing a success.”/hoe/DP/jha