Local public transport (Öpnv) should be much fuller in June. The reason: the 9 euro note announced by the government is coming. But who actually leaves the car and how well does the Karlsruher Verkehrsverbund (KVV) accommodate its subscriber customers? We took a closer look.
Cheap public transport – yes, that would be something. This idea has now become a certainty: the so-called 9 euro note is to be available everywhere in Germany for three months. This is made possible by the so-called 2022 relief package, which aims to halt the rise in energy prices at least a little. Because: In Karlsruhe alone, drivers currently pay just under two euros per liter – whether diesel or premium.
Because of the 9 euro ticket, many want to leave the car behind and use public transport. | Image: Paul Needhem
One more reason to leave the car at home for three months from June and switch to Karlsruher Verkehrsverbund (KVV) trains? On Facebook and in the comment section of ka-news.de, the topic has been hotly debated since Tuesday.
Nearly 79% of Karlsruhe residents voted for the 9 euro note
“I am starting a new job near the station on June 1. Since parking costs money and the price of petrol is high, I still wanted to take a monthly pass. If I really have three months to nine euros each, so that’s fine with me,” Facebook user Lilie Susanne wrote. “Claudine” also agrees further in the conversation: “Of course I will use the ticket. If I think about what an hour costs in the parking lot. It’s 4 euros now.”
In the pandemic year 2021, the number of passengers using public transport fell again. | Image: Britta Pedersen/dpa-Zentralbild/ZB
Conclusion: On average, readers support the upcoming 9 euro note and would even leave their car behind for it. This is also confirmed by a non-representative survey on the homepage of ka-news.de. 78.95% would accept the offer, 21.05% would continue to prefer the car to public transport. In the comments, there is only one reader who absolutely does not want to take advantage of the offer:
“No, because even 9 euros is too much for the unreliable store! If I had a job where punctuality is important, I would now be unemployed thanks to the railways, KVV and DB. Germany wants to win virus and save the climate, but I can’t even get the trains to run on time,” says user “Marc.”
Is the 9 euro note really valid throughout the country?
But despite all the “anticipation” about the cheap transport option, many questions from readers remain unanswered. Below: Is the 9 euro ticket valid in the whole KVV area or only for two honeycombs?
Various media indicate that the 9 euro note should be valid throughout the country and without regional restrictions. First, the German Editorial Network (RND) reported on this. These in turn refer to statements by the Bundestag Transport Committee.
From June there will be a 9 euro ticket for local transport for three months. | Image: Hannes P. Albert/dpa
Accordingly, the ticket must not only be valid for the entire KVV network, but also beyond it. Conversely, this also means that inexpensive journeys throughout the federal territory are possible. The KVV also pointed out the “rumors” about the validity of the 9 euro note in a press release:
“The 9 euro monthly pass is valid for local transport throughout Germany. Local transport includes city trains, trams, regional trains (RB, RE, IRE) and buses. Long-distance transport (by example ICE, IC/EC) cannot be used.The Karlsruher transport association is working hard in the fare, marketing, subscription and customer service departments to implement the piece-by-piece information of the federal government for the passengers of the association.
When and where can I buy the 9 euro ticket?
According to the KVV, the ticket can already be purchased at the end of May. Open questions are currently being clarified and sales channels are being prepared.
“The KVV will probably sell the ticket via KVV customer centers, ticket machines at the stops and online via the webshop (www.kvv-shop.de). Other sales channels are currently being checked and will be added to the list The monthly pass for 9 euros can also be purchased at Deutsche Bahn vending machines, DB Travel Centers and other rail travel centers. It is also possible to buy a monthly pass for 9 euros in other German cities outside the KVV area. Since this is a nationwide ticket, it does not matter where it is purchased. It can be used nationwide for local transportation throughout the calendar month,” the KVV continued.
From when and how long is the 9 euro ticket valid?
The monthly ticket at 9 euros should be valid throughout the territory from June 1 to August 31. After that, the special ticket is over. However, it can be purchased at any time during those three months.
“It applies monthly for the months of June, July and August. Slip periods are not provided. Entry or purchase is possible at any time during this period. For example, if you buy a monthly pass for 9 euros on June 8, you can use it for the rest of June. In July, a new ticket must be purchased if necessary. The card costs 9 euros per calendar month – so 9 euros for June, 9 euros for July and 9 euros for August.”
What applies to the 9 euro ticket for children?
Children under 6 travel free. Like all users of the 9 euro monthly ticket, children from the age of 6 pay 9 euros per calendar month for local transport throughout Germany. There is no additional child ticket with this special offer.
What applies to a 9 euro ticket with a KVV subscription?
Another point that keeps many readers busy in our comment sections is how to deal with subscriptions that have already been purchased. Does the KVV welcome subscribed customers or was it just unlucky in this case?
From June 1, citizens should be able to use public transport for 9 euros per month, throughout the territory and until the end of August. | Image: Hauke-Christian Dittrich/dpa
According to Spiegel den RND, subscription subscribers will receive a credit or a refund. But what does this look like for KVV customers? Are there already concrete plans here? At the request of the editors
“Subscribers do not have to do anything. They keep their existing contract and the KVV regulates the implementation of the offer for all its subscriber customers. The corresponding subscription card is then automatically valid throughout Germany under the form of a monthly card at 9 euros.
However, it is also possible to exchange the tickets. For example, if you accidentally bought the wrong ticket. “As before, all tickets are refundable or exchangeable prior to departure or in accordance with applicable regulations. If a €9 monthly ticket is purchased upon exchange, the refund fee does not apply.”