At the end of August, the 9-euro ticket for regional transport, which is supported by the federal government, expires. The countries are pushing for a continuation. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's head of government, Schwesig, hopes that this will also provide tailwind for her own local transport projects.
Schwerin (dpa/mv) - According to Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania considers the states' own considerations to strengthen local public transport to be sensible, but currently sees the federal government as responsible. "The 9-euro ticket is a good measure by the federal government. As a state, we are committed to the federal government extending the 9-euro ticket, at least for commuters," said Schwesig on Monday in Schwerin.
She was reluctant to comment on a proposal from Lower Saxony. The Ministry of Economic Affairs, led there by the CDU politician Bernd Althusmann (CDU), had brought into play a joint approach by the five northern German federal states in the event that the federal government did not provide a nationwide follow-up solution, but without becoming specific. "Of course we are open to seeing how we can make progress in the North German association," said Schwesig.
She pointed out that Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania had already introduced the trainee ticket, with which young people could use local transport for one euro a day. Such a discounted ticket will also be available for seniors in the future. In addition, the on-call bus system, which has already proven itself in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, is to be extended to the entire federal state.
"And if the federal government were to accompany this with the continuation of the 9-euro ticket, we would make really good progress on the issue. Simply telling people that you should no longer drive your petrol car is not enough. It has to be for them Giving people a real, affordable alternative to changing public transport," stressed Schwesig. On her Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania tour, which started on Monday, she used an electric bus for the first stage from Schwerin to Neustadt-Glewe and Parchim, which is also used in regional transport.
