Fares in the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV) are expected to rise again. An overview reveals what exactly the Hessians can expect.
Hessen – The fares for buses and trains will be increased. This was decided by the supervisory board of the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsbund at its most recent meeting. On Wednesday (June 9th, 2021), the RMV took stock of the 2020 financial year in a press release. Like so many companies, the group suffered heavy losses due to the corona pandemic. While 808 million passengers were booked around Frankfurt, Offenbach and Wiesbaden in 2019, this number fell to a sobering 524 million last year.
60 percent of this can be traced back to occasional trips. The RMV sells this as a success and states that “almost all regular customers” have remained loyal to the association. The increase in job tickets from 320 to 397 and the development of punctuality are similarly optimistic. The Hessian railways would have a punctuality rate of 94.2 percent in 2020, 2.4 percent more than in the previous year.
Rhein-Main-Verkehrsbund: Higher fares as early as July
The RMV supervisory board decided to increase the fare in the coming year by an average of 1.5 percent. The new prices should apply from 01/01/2022. But an intermediate step is planned for the beginning of July this year. Single trips within Frankfurt remain largely the same, with the cost of cross-city tickets gradually increasing. Examples of tariffs for adults are listed below:
| route | Current price | Price from 01.07.2021 | Price from 01.01.2022 |
| Single trip Frankfurt | 2,75 Euro | 2,75 Euro | 2,75 Euro |
| Single trip Frankfurt-Wiesbaden | 8,70 Euro | 8,80 Euro | 8,95 Euro |
| Annual pass Wiesbaden-Frankfurt Airport | 1377,10 Euro | 1396,50 Euro | 1417,10 Euro |
—
No changes are planned for various special tickets. So the senior and student tickets stay at the old price. The Hesse ticket will also continue to cost 36 euros, and those who need an annual public transport ticket will still pay 365 euros.
Hessen: Ticket prices for buses and trains are becoming more expensive – RMV defends price increase
The board of directors defends the price increases. “In the interests of passengers and climate protection, the supervisory board has once again limited the price increase to what is absolutely imperative,” said Ulrich Krebs, deputy chairman of the RMV supervisory board. In addition, these should actually have come at the beginning of 2021, the message says. Thanks to the passing on of the VAT reduction for the postponement to the middle of the year.
In addition, Knut Ringat, Managing Director of the RMV, justifies the increase with significantly higher expenses, in particular “wages for drivers and rising energy costs”. Alternative forms of financing could potentially be a long-term option to find the balancing act between rising costs, attractive fares and a wide range of offers.
“The justified increases in wages for the driving staff and rising energy costs result in significantly higher expenses,” says RMV managing director Prof. Knut Ringat. “The triple balancing act between rising costs, attractive fares and a dense range of offers can only be carried out by public transport if the financing is sustainably secured – possibly also through alternative forms of financing.”
The RMV is also considering reactivating the tram connection between Frankfurt and Offenbach.
–
