Price increase shocks Berlin: social ticket will soon be twice as expensive!

Price increase shocks Berlin: social ticket will soon be twice as expensive!

Public transport in Berlin is facing a dramatic change: from April 2024, the prices for the social ticket, which many low-income citizens use, will be increased by a whopping 111 percent. The price increases from the previous 9 euros to 19 euros per month, according to the Reports from Berlin Live will hit around 200,000 people in the capital hard. The CDU had originally even called for a doubling to 29 euros, but an agreement was reached with the SPD that limited the increase to 19 euros. But the darkness of the latest developments extends through all layers of society.

While users of the social ticket have to pay more for their mobility in the city, many passengers complain about the catastrophic situation on the trains and stations. As in the reports from nd current As described, the carriages are overcrowded and many passengers, including seniors with wheelchairs and families with strollers, have difficulty finding space at all. This situation leads to quiet desperation among passengers who have to react to overcrowding and delays every day. Residents are repeatedly assured that everything is running normally, even though trains are not running as usual. The subway trains, especially on the U1 and U3 lines, sometimes offer catastrophic conditions. Waiting times of up to 18 minutes are not uncommon, with morning commuters often left without space in overcrowded cars.

These developments raise questions, including about the reliability and accessibility of local transport in one of Germany's largest cities. The increase in ticket prices and the tense situation on the trains could cause the quality of life of many Berliners to decline drastically, especially for those financially dependent on public transport.