Ein ICE auf Höhe der Aurachbrücke bei Emskirchen (Landkreis Neustadt an der Aisch)
Foto: Harry Koerber / IMAGO
The German railway company, Deutsche Bahn, is now offering ICE and IC tickets for less than ten euros on short distances. According to the company’s announcement, these tickets will be available for 9.90 euros until March 31, 2024.
In June and July of this year, the company had already offered the affordable tickets. According to their own statements, over 500,000 pieces were sold.
The tickets are valid for shorter distances such as Munich-Augsburg, Cologne-Düsseldorf, Hamburg-Bremen, or Dresden-Leipzig. With a Bahncard 25 or 50, there is an additional 25 percent discount, so that train customers could already travel with the ICE for 7.40 euros. The tickets are valid for second class and can be purchased online or at DB sales outlets.
The offer comes at a time when the currently most successful savings ticket in the country is being questioned: Since May 1st, the Germany ticket can be used for 49 euros per month – as a digitally bookable, monthly cancellable subscription for public transportation and trains of the Deutsche Bahn throughout Germany, excluding Intercitys and ICEs.
However, it is uncertain whether the Deutschlandticket can be continued. The losses associated with it are shared equally between the federal government and the states. The federal government will provide 1.5 billion euros each year from 2023 to 2025. The states will contribute the same amount. Any additional costs beyond the three billion euros will also be split equally in the first year. However, this „obligation to contribute“ is open from 2024 onwards. A dispute has arisen between the federal government and the states because Federal Minister of Transport Volker Wissing (FDP) rejects a higher cost contribution from the federal government.
Michael Kretschmer wirbt für Deutschlandticket
Currently, the Prime Minister of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, is promoting the financial security of the Germany Ticket. „We feel that this 49-euro ticket is being very well received, especially by people in metropolitan areas,“ said the CDU politician following an out-of-town cabinet meeting at the Reiche Zeche silver mine in Freiberg (Mittelsachsen district).
Now the next step is needed, a higher clock density and more bus and rail vehicles in rural areas. In reality, the municipal associations in the field of public transportation are underfunded. Kretschmer said that this underfunding will continue to grow in the coming years. He wants to discuss this with Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) in Berlin soon. „We will make it clear to him that this will not work,“ said Kretschmer.