New tariff models and marketing campaigns
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How NRW wants to get passengers back on buses and trains
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During the corona pandemic, many passengers turned their backs on public transport.
Foto: Matzerath, Ralph (rm)/Matzerath, Ralph (rm-)
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Düsseldorf Bus and train have lost popularity in NRW. 40 percent fewer guests are currently boarding public transport than before the pandemic. The Ministry of Transport and the transport companies want to counter this with a nationwide campaign.
The corona pandemic was a setback for local public transport in several ways. At first, many guests avoided buses and trains to minimize the risk of infection. According to the transport associations, more and more subscribers have been canceling in the past few months. Many people want to work from home more often in the future and are not dependent on public transport on a daily basis. “If people no longer drive to the office five days a week, they don’t want to pay a subscription for every day,” said NRW Transport Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU). The passenger load on public transport in NRW is currently 60 to 65 percent of the load before the pandemic. In order to win back customers, the NRW Ministry of Transport and the transport companies are starting a nationwide campaign.
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Part of the campaign are new, more flexible ticket offers. The Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) has been testing the “Flexticket” for corporate customers as part of a pilot project since the beginning of June. A similar tariff is to come for all passengers in January 2022. It works like this: Either you pay five euros a month and get individual tickets 20 to 25 percent cheaper, or you pay ten euros a month and get a ticket discount of 30 to 35 percent. Another model will be available from August in the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg (VRS). With a “10-day flex ticket” passengers get ten discounted tickets per month, which are valid within 30 days.
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“The behavior of customers has changed,” said Michael Vogel, Managing Director of VRS. He assumes that this change will last. The trend towards home office is a challenge for public transport, said Wüst. But the climate goals can only be achieved with investments in the expansion of local public transport. “A modern transport policy is the best way to protect the climate,” said Wüst. Germany had to become a “railroad country” again.
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Billions are already flowing for this purpose. Since 2019, almost two billion euros have been put into a public transport offensive in North Rhine-Westphalia. To compensate for the loss of passengers, the federal and state governments have each invested 477 million euros in buses and trains.
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However, customers must expect price increases despite investments by the federal and state governments. The VRR announced at the end of June that the ticket price would rise by an average of 1.7 percent in 2022. “I think these discussions are going on in all network rooms,” said VRS Managing Director Vogel. He expects price increases in all NRW transport associations. The transport companies were caught in a field of tension. “On the one hand, we want to win back customers. On the other hand, we have considerable damage that is borne by all sides, ”said Vogel. It is normal and solidary for everyone to participate. The local transport companies assume that the number of passengers on buses and trains will reach the pre-Corona level by the end of 2022
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In addition to the new tariffs and marketing campaigns during the holidays, a nationwide coordination office is also to be set up. “It should deal intensively and sustainably with the consequences of the pandemic,” said Vogel. With this one wants to prepare better for further cases in the future.
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