Germany’s €9 rail ticket sees ridership exceed pre-pandemic numbers

The Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis) has announced that the number of people who have used rail transport after the launch of the €9 ticket across the whole of Germany has increased significantly, surpassing pre-pandemic passenger levels registered in July 2019.

According to Destatis, travel in rail transport has increased markedly, especially in rural areas with a high level of tourism. The authority found that the number of passengers who travelled using rail transport over distances of 30km or more was markedly above pre-pandemic levels, with an average of 42 per cent more travels having been made by rail in July 2022 than in the same period in 2019.

“In July 2022, as in the month before, an average of 42 per cent more travels were made than in the relevant month of 2019. Travels in road transport in the whole of Germany remained at roughly the same level as in the same period of 2019. These all-German results suggest a general increase in travels,” Destatis’ statement reads.

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The €9 train ticket was introduced in Germany on 1 June 2022 and is valid for one month, whereas the scheme will remain effective until 31 August 2022. The ticket can be used on all public transport services across the country on any local route for as many trips as the holder wants to use it for. This means that the ticket is not valid on long-distance trains.

The surge in the use of rail transport comes as Destatis reports that tourism in Germany has experienced an increase too, with the most recent data showing that the number of nights spent by tourists in Germany grew to 48.9 million in June 2022.