Deutschlandticket thins out the long-distance bus network – Flixbus hopes to participate

The so-called Deutschlandticket (€49 ticket) strengthens local public transport – at the expense of long-distance bus connections, among other things. The providers of long-distance bus lines (e.g. Flixbus) feel a drop in demand for certain routes and then reduce their offer. A Flixbus spokesman revealed this to the Rheinische Post.

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49 euro ticket robs long-distance bus connections

According to the RP report, a survey by the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) has shown that since the introduction of the Deutschlandticket in May of this year, more and more people have been using local public transport – and therefore, among other things, leaving their cars behind or foregoing paid services. The company Flixbus is now feeling this. The ticket will affect demand for long-distance bus travel on certain routes, the spokesman said, according to RP. This applies above all to connections between large cities and typical tourist regions; for example trips from Hamburg to the coast. Therefore, the company has thinned out the connections on such routes.

This means that what Flixbus had predicted six months ago has come true: up to 20 percent of routes could be canceled because of the Germany ticket, especially in rural areas. A company spokesman said at the time that some routes could no longer be operated economically against this offer. The Deutschlandticket represents, to a certain extent, free competition on routes on which Flixbus has previously been the cheapest.

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Flixbus would like to be integrated into the Deutschlandticket

Partly because of this development, Flixbus expresses its wish to be integrated into the Germany ticket with its bus connections. The company emphasized to RP that the users of the ticket would have added value through long-distance bus connections. The company spokesman pointed out that surveys showed that the integration of long-distance buses made the offer more attractive and increased sales of the Deutschlandticket. Flixbus is optimistic that travelers will also be able to use long-distance buses with the Germany ticket in the future.

However, the Federal Ministry of Transport is not very open to this idea. A ministry spokeswoman told the RP that the primary aim of the Deutschlandticket is to make local public transport much more attractive. It is therefore not designed as a long-distance transport service. The ministry is still in the process of deciding whether long-distance buses would be included at a later date.

(tiw)

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