Deutschlandticket is thinning out the long-distance bus network – Flixbus hopes to participate

The so-called Deutschlandticket (49 euro ticket) strengthens local public transport – among other things at the expense of long-distance bus connections. The providers of long-distance bus routes (such as Flixbus) are experiencing a loss in demand for certain routes and are therefore reducing their offerings. A Flixbus spokesman revealed this to the Rheinische Post.

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49 euro ticket robs long-distance bus connections

A survey by the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) has according to the RP report show that since the introduction of the Deutschlandticket in May of this year, more and more people are using local public transport – and are therefore, among other things, leaving their cars behind or foregoing paid services. The Flixbus company is now feeling the effects of this. The ticket will impact demand for long-distance bus journeys on certain routes, the spokesman said, according to RP. This particularly affects connections between large cities and typical tourist regions; for example trips from Hamburg to the coast. The company has therefore thinned out connections on such routes.

This means that what Flixbus had predicted half a year ago has happened: up to 20 percent the routes could be omitted because of the Germany ticket, especially in rural areas. A company spokesman said at the time that some routes would no longer be able to be operated economically against this offer. The Deutschlandticket represents, to a certain extent, free competition on routes on which Flixbus has previously been the cheapest.

Flixbus would like to be integrated into the Deutschlandticket

Because of this development, among other things, Flixbus expresses the desire to have its bus connections integrated into the Deutschlandticket. The company emphasized to RP that ticket users would gain added value from long-distance bus connections. The company spokesman pointed out that surveys showed that the integration of long-distance buses made the offer more attractive and increased sales figures for the Deutschlandticket. Flixbus is optimistic that travelers will also be able to use long-distance buses with the Germany ticket in the future.

However, the Federal Ministry of Transport is not very open to this idea. A ministry spokeswoman told the RP that the primary goal of the Deutschlandticket is to make local public transport much more attractive. It is therefore not designed as a long-distance transport service. The ministry is still in the process of deciding whether long-distance buses would be included at a later date.

(tiw)