The CDU/Greens government in Hesse wants to introduce a discounted local transport ticket for people with little money.

The nationwide valid ticket should cost 31 euros a month and be available to people who are entitled to citizen benefits, housing benefit plus or social assistance, said Transport Minister Tarek Al-Wazir and Social Affairs Minister Kai Klose (both Die Grünen) in Wiesbaden on Monday.

The circle of beneficiaries includes around 520,000 people.

There is already a similar flat-rate ticket for students, trainees and senior citizens in Hesse at a price of 365 euros per year;

State employees travel free of charge.

Ralph Euler

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

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Al-Wazir explained that the state would make up to 15 million euros available to finance the planned “Hessenpass mobil” for low-income earners and to compensate for the loss of income from the transport associations.

An amendment by the coalition factions of the CDU and Greens to the draft of the state budget 2023/2024, which will enable the provision of these funds, is on the way to parliament.

Together with the three transport associations RMV, NVV and VRN, the offer should be developed in the next few weeks and then, if possible, be available together with the planned Germany ticket for 49 euros.

According to the current status, the Deutschlandticket will be introduced by May 1st at the latest.

However, according to Al-Wazir, coordination talks would also have to be held with municipalities such as Frankfurt, Darmstadt or Kassel, where there are already discounted tickets for the socially disadvantaged.

"Everyone in Hesse should have the opportunity to travel at an affordable price," said Al-Wazir.

He referred to the success of the nationwide unique Hessian flat-rate ticket - i.e. the student and senior citizen ticket and the job ticket for state employees.

This means that the “citizen ticket” he promised when he took office nine years ago is now practically a reality for all Hessians.

In the future, every citizen will be able to travel by bus or train throughout Hesse for 49 euros or less a month.

The Germany ticket for 49 euros already means financial relief for many people, added Social Affairs Minister Klose.

"At the same time, there are many with no or very little income, for whom 49 euros is a lot of money." For this group of people, the "Hessenpass mobil" is an important step towards more physical and mental mobility and more equal opportunities.

"Mobility is a central requirement for social participation in a wide variety of areas."

The coalition partner of the Greens, the CDU, praised the project.

MP Jörg Michael Müller described it as a sensible step to further facilitate access to public transport and make it more attractive.

The Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND) spoke of an “interesting proposal” that is close to the environmental protection organization’s demand for a nationwide 365-euro ticket.

The success of the offer should be reviewed after one to two years so that any necessary improvements can then be made, suggested Thomas Norgall, deputy state manager of the BUND.

The SPD in the state parliament, on the other hand, criticized the state government's plans as early campaign maneuvers.

Tobias Eckert, spokesman for transport policy for the SPD parliamentary group, said that the Hessenpass was expensive and inefficient.

In his opinion, with the same means it would have been possible to finance a ticket for low earners that costs less than 49 euros but is valid throughout Germany.

That would have been important, Eckert argues, especially for those Hessians who were working in neighboring federal states.