Germany's rail system introduced a 9-euro pass offering unlimited travel for a month. Here's what transpired | Dinogo

As I walked from the town center of Brühl to the train station, I passed by a UNESCO World Heritage site. The 18th-century Augustusburg Palace – one of Germany's earliest examples of Rococo architecture – attracts visitors from across the globe. Brühl, located 11 miles south of Cologne, boasts a charming pedestrianized main street, expansive parklands, and the Max Ernst Museum, dedicated to the artist born here.

How do I know this? It’s all thanks to Germany's 9-euro unlimited rail pass.

I hadn’t planned on visiting Brühl, nor had I intended to do any sightseeing in Germany. I was simply passing through Düsseldorf on an overnight layover, planning to catch up on work at my hotel and take a stroll around the city.

I purchased the ticket, dropped off my bags at the hotel, and headed straight back to the train station. The plan was to visit Cologne and see its famous cathedral – after all, it was free. But then, I remembered that nearly a century ago, my family had lived in Brühl, just a short distance away. So, instead of getting off at Cologne station, I switched platforms and caught a train in the opposite direction. About 15 minutes later, I arrived in Brühl, a completely unplanned detour that allowed me to reconnect with my family's old home.

A one-way ticket from Düsseldorf to Brühl would have cost 9 euros, but with this deal, I got a round-trip and two airport transfers for the same price, instead of the usual 24 euros. But this wasn’t just about saving money – for me, the 9-euro ticket opened a window into what Germany had to offer, even in less than a day. I’m already looking forward to returning. One Rococo palace just isn’t enough.

I’m not alone in this. Germany’s initiative to offer unlimited regional travel for just 9 euros per month this summer – which ends on August 31 – has been an overwhelming success.

By early August, nearly 60 million tickets had been sold, according to the VDV (Association of German Transporters), covering the months of June and July.

This includes 10 million subscribers who automatically received the ticket, 21 million tickets sold in June, and 17 million sold in July.

UK travel blogger Alexei Gaynanov had already planned an 11-day trip to Germany when the 9-euro ticket was introduced. He had purchased an Interrail pass for unlimited train travel, but he says the 9-euro ticket ‘opened up the entire network for us – including the subway, trams, and buses.’

'It made getting around effortless and eliminated the stress of figuring out which ticket to buy. We saved a significant amount of money during the 11 days we spent in Germany,' he adds.

Improved air quality

The 9-euro ticket hasn’t just pleased customers; it has also led to environmental benefits. A study on air quality conducted by the University of Potsdam’s Center for Economic Policy Analysis this summer revealed a 'significant drop of over 6%' in the air quality index.

Niklas Gohl, the study's author, told Dinogo that the improvement was 'most noticeable in densely populated urban areas and places with strong public transport networks.' He also expressed optimism about what this means for the future.

'Our research shows that a public transport subsidy like the 9-euro ticket, at least in the short term, has the potential to encourage more sustainable transportation and reduce air pollution,' he added.

Although the project ends this month, it has ignited a broader movement for more affordable and eco-friendly public transportation. From September through the end of the year, much of Spain’s regional train services will be completely free of charge.

Germany, which had initially predicted 30 million tickets sold each month, is now considering a new 69-euro monthly pass following the success of the program.

Gaining traction

The more expensive pass would cost 824 euros annually, which is still less than Austria’s 1,095-euro Klimatiket, providing access to public transport for the entire year.

Oliver Wolff, CEO of VDV, states that the success of the 9-euro ticket has created a momentum that 'we can no longer reverse.'

He stated that the 9-euro price was only sustainable for three months, and proposed the introduction of a new monthly pass priced at 69 euros.

'The market research commissioned by the government, along with other findings, clearly outline the potential and limitations of a nationwide public transport climate ticket as a solution,' he remarked.

'We suggest a nationwide ÖPNV-Klimaticket (public transport climate ticket) priced at 69 euros per month, offering second-class travel rights for one-way trips,' he added.

A spokesperson from Germany's Ministry for Digital and Transport told Dinogo that the ticket was introduced as a 'temporary relief measure' to address rising energy and fuel costs. 'The coalition will decide to what extent these measures will continue. The question of funding will be critical,' they explained.

They also mentioned that Volker Wissing, the federal minister for digital and transport, had established a working group upon taking office in December 2021, 'to develop an expansion and modernization plan that will be discussed by the transport ministers' conference this autumn.'

'This gives us the chance to make public transport far more convenient and appealing to all citizens,' they remarked.

Niklas Gohl, the author of the air pollution study, notes that, in the long run, the overall impact of the subsidy would need to be carefully assessed.

Overcrowded trains, but fewer tourists

The 9-euro ticket wasn’t all smooth sailing. Travelers reported overcrowded trains during peak hours, a problem Gaynanov frequently encountered. 'The transport system couldn’t handle the surge in demand during an already busy summer period,' he explained.

'Every train we took was packed, but the trains to popular day-trip destinations were especially full, with no seats available,' he recalls.

'We couldn’t even board one train – it was one of those where the first four carriages go to one destination and the last four to another. We had to board a less crowded carriage and change our plans as a result.'

'Many services on the DB network were delayed due to staff shortages. For me, a solution would be to implement something like this, but perhaps outside the peak summer months.'

Even I experienced a bit of the chaos on my single day using the pass. While connecting through Cologne on my return from Brühl during rush hour, two security guards were stationed at the top of the stairs directing passengers where to stand. The train was so overcrowded that some passengers, unable to stand, resorted to sitting in first class.

It remains to be seen whether these additional travelers were locals, domestic tourists, or international visitors drawn by the appeal of cheap public transport during a summer marked by air travel disruptions and sky-high car rental prices.

Figures released in August by Germany’s Federal Statistics Office, Destatis, revealed a 60% increase in overnight stays in June 2022 compared to the previous year. However, this figure includes domestic tourists – data on international visitors won’t be available until December. Meanwhile, foreign-focused booking sites show a different picture: trips to Germany through platforms like Lastminute.com and Enchanting Travels were down by 25% this summer compared to 2019.

'While there’s still a lingering effect from Covid-19, demand is definitely on the rise,' said Parik Laxminarayan, CEO of Enchanting Travels and USTO. He predicts that 2023 will see travel numbers 'equal to or exceeding' those of 2019.

'While initiatives like the 9-euro ticket have undeniably boosted domestic travel within Germany, it hasn’t impacted our business. A low-cost public transport option might be great for locals, but it doesn’t serve as a draw for a US guest booking a bespoke trip to Europe,' he added.

Regardless of where these extra visitors were coming from, Wolff believes that a 69-euro ticket would be the ideal balance – affordable enough to entice drivers to leave their cars behind, but not so cheap that it attracts millions of random travelers like me, overcrowding the trains with spontaneous trips. He estimates this scheme would cost around 2 billion euros.

Although the writer hoped that a new scheme would be implemented by September 1, when the current program ends, there has been no announcement so far. A spokesperson for VDV mentioned that there is not enough time to launch a new ticket before the deadline.

On August 2, the government issued a call for proposals to create more integrated local transport. Just one week before the 9-euro ticket expires, there was a new environmentally friendly announcement for hydrogen-powered trains on a 60-mile route in Lower Saxony.

Will Germany follow Austria’s lead and introduce a Klimatiket? As of now, there’s no confirmation.

With the climate crisis worsening and European rivers running dry this summer, the success of the 9-euro ticket is sure to be a key issue for politicians as they head into the fall.