The nine-euro ticket, which has been available nationwide since Monday, is in great demand in Hesse.

The sale of the cheap monthly tickets for June, July and August got off to a good start, said a spokeswoman for Deutsche Bahn.

Nationwide, around 50,000 tickets were sold in the early hours of the morning alone via the Deutsche Bahn channels.

Ralph Euler

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung, responsible for the Rhein-Main section of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sunday newspaper.

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The South Hessian public transport provider HEAG mobilo, which had already started selling on Saturday, spoke of more than 2000 tickets sold within 24 hours at its sales stands in Darmstadt alone on Saturday;

a company spokesman said only about 50 season tickets would be sold on normal Saturdays.

The Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV), which advertises the nine-euro ticket in local public transport with the slogan "One month of public transport for less than four sausages", says it can only provide information on sales of the nine-euro on Wednesday at the earliest -Make tickets in his fare zone because the association itself does not sell any tickets.

The cheap monthly card is offered at the instigation of the federal government as compensation for the sharp rise in energy prices.

It is valid throughout Germany on all buses, trams, subways, S-Bahn and local and regional trains, but only for second class.

Long-distance transport with ICE, Intercity and Eurocity, the green Flix trains and long-distance buses cannot be used.

Anyone who already has an RMV annual ticket does not have to buy new tickets.

His annual pass is valid throughout Germany for the three months from the beginning of June to the end of August.

During this time, the price is reduced to nine euros per month.

Whether the lower price is already debited directly or a refund is made varies according to RMV information depending on the transport company.

“A Great Deal”

According to the German Press Agency, online booking at Deutsche Bahn (DB) was temporarily overloaded on Monday.

The homepage said: “Dear customer, too many users are currently accessing our booking system at the same time.

Please try again later.” Some transport companies fear that many trains and buses could be overcrowded during the three summer months.

"Even a maximum of available trains ultimately marks a limit," warned the CEO of DB-Regio, Jörg Sandvoß.

Above all, taking bicycles with you cannot always be guaranteed, especially since the decision to go on many excursions is made spontaneously and depends on the weather.

In the RMV area, the nine-euro ticket has been available from ticket machines and all larger RMV sales offices since Monday.

At the ticket machines in Frankfurt, where the discounted monthly ticket is offered with an icon directly on the start screen, sales seem to have gone smoothly.

Touched the screen three times, paid nine euros, and the ticket for the desired month was in the issue compartment.

However, the first and last name must then be entered on the front, because the card is personal and only valid in conjunction with an official photo ID.

From June 1st, the purchase should also be possible via the RMV app.

RMV Managing Director Knut Ringat considers the nine-euro ticket to be "a great offer".

"When we see full buses and trains in the summer, it shows how important it is to further expand local transport." Conversely, the public sector must also make enough money available so that the transport companies can meet the increasing demand.

"Fare receipts are not enough for this," Ringat clarifies.