In an attempt to counter the wave of punctuality and inflationary pressures, the German government has introduced an unlimited train pass costing just nine euros. Citizens like retiree Barbel Hale are thrilled with the subsidy. “I think it helps a lot. This gives people the opportunity to leave their homes. Who can travel differently, with these gas prices?” he says.

On the other hand, those who use the medium more and often experience line congestion as well as delays expected the worst. While this measure made rail travel more accessible, putting millions of euros back into the pockets of those who use trains to get around, there were fears that the system had already reached its limit. Even before cheap tickets went on sale, many newspapers had bold headlines warning of the coming chaos. However, their fears were not confirmed: ten weeks after the start of subsidies, the results of the experiment are pleasant and encouraging.

Although 25% of the German population necessarily bought cheap tickets within the first month, there was no significant increase in the number of passengers on the trains. And, of course, this measure seems to have given the government points, as according to a poll by the magazine Der Spiegel, 55% of Germans are in favor of extending the subsidy and 34% are against it.

Ten weeks after the start of subsidies, the results of the experiment are encouraging: 55% of Germans said “yes” to its extension.

The truth is that the state of German railways has been getting worse and worse in recent years, with less than 65% of trains arriving at stations on time and train cancellations on the rise. The blame for the current situation is placed on the old infrastructure, as well as on a significant increase in demand.

The nine-euro subsidized ticket was a measure to deal with the increase in electricity costs caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, despite its temporary nature, it immediately became part of the public dialogue about creating a more sustainable German society that would not be completely dependent on Russian oil. As climate activist Lisa Neubauer points out, “The subsidized ticket is the first and probably the only measure against the energy crisis that has received immediate universal acceptance, mainly because it helps people from different socioeconomic backgrounds in a more equitable way than heating and heating. fuel subsidies.

But railroad workers have also welcomed the measure, as it saves them the trouble of checking tickets, they say. “Everyone has nine euros and can travel as much as they want,” they emphasize. There is no point in checking tickets anymore.