Public Transport Fare Increase: Metro, Tram, and Bus Prices to Rise by 11.7 Percent

Sep 13, 2023 at 5:09 am

Fares on the metro, tram and bus will probably increase by 11.7 percent next year. The carriers are faced with higher costs, including for personnel and energy, and are therefore increasing their prices considerably.

The percentage is determined by DOVA, an organization of governments that tender public transport. These are, for example, provinces and large cities such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

The organization calculates every year how much the costs for carriers have increased. In the past, these increases were fairly limited, but this year expenses have skyrocketed due to more expensive energy and higher wages. For example, earlier this year it was agreed in the collective labor agreement that wages for bus drivers, among others, would increase by 6 percent.

Earlier this year, DOVA arrived at a cost increase of 11.3 percent after a preliminary calculation. But the organization has in the meantime adjusted this to 11.7 percent. Carriers often follow the DOVA percentage.

It is the second major increase in a short time. At the beginning of this year, a ride on public transport became 7 percent more expensive.

The increases apply to the regional transport of companies such as Connexxion, Arriva and Keolis. This also includes urban transport in the four major cities, for example the Rotterdam RET and the Hague HTM. NS train transport is not included.

Rover finds the increase shocking

Traveler organization Rover is not happy with the more expensive tickets and calls the price increase alarming. “DOVA’s calculation method is accurate, so you can’t do much about it,” says director Freek Bos. “But as a government you should ensure fuller buses and trams. Then you can spread the increased costs over more travelers and the fares will increase less.”

According to Bos, public transport has eroded in recent years. “There are now fewer buses than before corona, while prices have gone up. That is why you should do something fiscally. Excise duties have gone down for motorists, but public transport users have not received such a reduction. Moreover, public transport is better for the climate.”

Beeld: Getty Images

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Public transportEconomics
2023-09-13 03:09:37
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