German Automobile Club President Christian Reinicke Speaks Out Against Further Price Increases for the Germany Ticket
German Automobile Club President Christian Reinicke has spoken out in favor of not increasing the price of the Germany Ticket any further, stating that the current price has already reached the pain threshold for many users. “In our view, the price threshold has been reached” Reinicke told the Funke Media Group’s newspapers (Friday editions).
According to Reinicke, the federal government and the states would need to discuss the future of the ticket after the election, with the ideal solution being to secure a permanent financing mechanism. The monthly price for the local transportation offer had increased to 58 euros per month at the start of the year, up from 49 euros previously.
Reinicke credited the Germany Ticket with successfully shifting a part of the traffic from the road to the rail, saying, “At times, 13 million subscribers speak a clear language.” Such a simple and affordable offer can still resonate with people.
At the same time, Reinicke held the German Railways and the federal government accountable for making faster progress in the modernization of the rail infrastructure. “The challenges related to punctuality, which are linked to the aging rail infrastructure, are certainly a reason for many people to continue using their own cars” Reinicke explained. However, the ADAC president now considers the prices at the German Railways to be too high. “The railway needs to be mindful of its pricing” he said.