As a thank you for your loyalty during the crisis, many German public transport companies are offering their subscribers free travel throughout Germany in September.
Berlin – Transport associations were hit hard by the Corona crisis. Passengers stayed away and subscriptions were canceled in a row. In order to win back customers, the public transport industry is now coming up with some ideas. For example, the Karlsruhe KVV enables its customers to travel free of charge * in Germany for two weeks (BW24 * reported).
In addition to many other regional and national activities, a national campaign is now being implemented. From September 13th to 26th, everyone who has a valid public transport subscription can use all local transport offers in Germany at no additional cost. As the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) announced, this is intended to “sustainably strengthen” customer confidence in buses and trains.
Public transport in Germany: the industry is still a long way from recovering
As part of the nationwide community campaign #besserweiter, which is being enforced by the federal government, states, associations and transport companies, incentives are to be created again for buses and trains * after the severe corona consequences to use local public transport.
Nationwide # thank you campaign planned for mid-September: Subscribers can use the # public transport nationwide for two weeks at no additional cost. #besserweiter @ DEmobil2030
These and other topics of today’s VDV-PK can be found here in the press release: https://t.co/mEvVjR9FmY pic.twitter.com/9Wmk6ZT9ti– VDV (@VDV_Verband) July 8, 2021
According to the VDV, the number of passengers is currently around 60 percent of the pre-crisis level, at least in large cities and metropolitan areas. In the second lockdown at the end of 2020, only around 40 percent of the otherwise usual passengers were using public transport. Nevertheless, the industry is apparently a long way from the passenger level in 2019. Persistent short-time work, limited school openings and a lack of major events do the rest.
“Digitization, home office and also the uncertainty about possible infections, especially at the beginning of the pandemic, have led to an increase in individual rather than shared mobility,” says Ingo Wortmann, President of the VDV industry association. “In addition, our passengers, who have also ridden with us over the past 15 months, have higher quality standards with regard to the clearances in the vehicle or when cleaning.” The changes have to be dealt with.
Public transport in Germany: Mask requirements will remain in place for a while
Good news for everyone who is still skeptical about traveling by train during the Corona period: According to a Corona study, the risk of infection in buses and trains is no higher than in the car. * Many public transport operators do not want to say goodbye to the mask requirement for the time being *.
“From our point of view, this is still an appropriate measure, which is also met with a high level of acceptance by passengers,” said a spokesman for the Stuttgart Transport and Tariff Association (VVS), for example, to the Stuttgarter Zeitung . * BW24 is an offer from Ippen.Media.
