Sep 13, 2023 at 5:09 AM Update: 44 minutes ago
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.
Receive notifications of important developments Stay informed with notifications
Rover finds the increase shocking
Traveler organization Rover is not happy with the more expensive tickets and calls the price increase “shocking”. “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.”
Provinces want the government to step in
The provinces say that transport is indeed facing higher costs and that prices must necessarily increase. Their advocate, the Interprovincial Consultation (IPO), emphasizes that the cabinet should contribute to this.
The organization is referring to a motion that was adopted in the House of Representatives earlier this year. It calls on the government to prevent public transport from further declining. According to the IPO, this could ensure that public transport prices do not rise as quickly. The four major cities also support this call.
2023-09-13 08:46:30
#Bus #tram #metro #expensive #Price #increase #shocking #Economy
