Transport Ministers Discuss 49-Euro Ticket and Other Issues in Aachen
The transport ministers of the federal states have concluded their two-day consultations in Aachen on Thursday. Oliver Krischer, the chairman of the Conference of Transport Ministers (VMK), along with several colleagues, presented the results at noon. The primary agenda item for the ministers was to address the unresolved details concerning the 49-euro ticket, which was approved by the Bundestag last week. This ticket will apply to local transportation throughout Germany starting May 1st.
The aim of the ticket is to increase demand for local transportation services through attractive pricing. A digitally bookable, monthly terminable subscription is planned. In some regions, the transport associations have promised special additional tickets for extra services, such as taking additional people, animals, or bicycles at low cost. The conference of transport ministers aimed to achieve harmonization in this area.
The railway and transport union (EVG) cautioned that simply offering attractive prices is not enough to stimulate demand for local transport services; the offer must also be expanded accordingly. The EVG called for investments in infrastructure, vehicles, and staff. The transport companies’ loss of income should also be fully compensated. Furthermore, the transport authorities and railway companies must take measures in good time before the summer tourist traffic “to avoid overload situations like in summer 2022,” demanded the EVG.
Other issues discussed by the transport ministers include a reform of passenger controls at airports and more 30 km/h zones in municipalities. The federal states proposed that responsibility for security checks should be transferred from the federal police to the airports.
The conference of transport ministers was accompanied by protests by climate activists and environmental organizations from the start. On Thursday, they presented the “red climate map” for the Federal Transport Route Plan (BVWP) to Krischer. The Parents for Future alliance called for an immediate stop to the construction and expansion of federal trunk roads, priority for the rehabilitation of roads, bridges, and rails, the rapid expansion of the railways, and a thorough review of the BVWP’s requirement plans according to environmental and climate aspects. The campaign was supported by other environmental organizations. A demonstration with 600 participants was also registered with the Aachen police.
