Because of the 9-euro ticket, Flixbus customers stayed away. There could soon be a successor - and the long-distance bus provider would like to be there this time. Discussions with politicians are already underway.
Flixbus wants to be involved in a possible successor to the 9-euro ticket in local transport. "If a future 'climate ticket' is to be complete and available to everyone, the following applies: it doesn't work without a long-distance bus," explained the head of the mobility provider, André Schwämmlein. "We are ready to relieve traffic." Talks were already underway with politicians in the federal and state governments to integrate the national long-distance bus offer into the future discount ticket, it said.
In this way, the gap between regional and long-distance transport can be closed and in rural areas, where the long-distance bus is often the only alternative to the car, there is "added value for millions of people". To that end, the 9-euro ticket had "some weaknesses," Schwämmlein continued. In rural areas there were no direct connections to big cities - so many people were excluded from the discount ticket.
The discounted ticket was valid in June, July and August. This allowed passengers to use public transport nationwide for nine euros a month - but the ticket was not valid on Flix buses and trains. All in all, providers of long-distance buses also complained that their passenger numbers had collapsed because of the cheap tickets.
The 9-euro ticket was one of several relief measures given the current high cost of living. A successor plan is now being intensively sought.
