In a current Greenpeace ranking of the most climate-friendly public transport systems, Germany ranks fourth out of a total of 30 European countries evaluated. The Deutschlandticket, which has been valid for public transport and regional transport since this week, was decisive for the environmental protection organization.
While Germany received 69 out of 100 points from Greenpeace, Luxembourg was the only country to receive full points. All public transport can be used there free of charge since 2020. However, ticketless driving has not yet significantly shifted car traffic to public transport, explains Greenpeace (PDF). This is probably due to the fact that more than 200,000 people commute in and out of Luxembourg. These would need tickets for the other countries.
Patchwork quilt Germany
For Germany, Greenpeace pointed out that not all public transport can be used with the Deutschlandticket, long-distance trains are left out. There are no general social discounts, the federal states can grant such discounts at their own expense. Hesse, for example, offers low-income earners the Deutschlandticket for 31 euros. Since numerous other exceptions and additional regulations are planned, this could lead to a patchwork of regulations.
There are no such restrictions in Malta, where since October 2022 almost all public transport can be used free of charge. However, express buses and the ferries between the two main islands are still subject to a fee, which is why Malta ended up in second place with 88 points at Greenpeace. There are no trains or trams in Malta, unlike in Austria, with 81 points in third place. Points were deducted here, among other things, for the price of the climate ticket introduced in 2021, which at the equivalent of 3 euros a day is too high for Greenpeace. The climate ticket is valid nationwide, but also for national rail transport in Austria.
Greenpeace also looked at the capitals of the 30 countries individually. Here Berlin came in at 66 points and thus in 23rd place. A regional ticket for 29 euros was available there until the introduction of the Deutschlandticket. It was unclear whether this would be reintroduced, so these considerations were not included in the assessment. With 100 points, the most exemplary capital for Greenpeace is Tallinn in Estonia, together with Luxembourg and Valletta (Malta). Since 2013, Tallinn has been the first European city to offer its residents free public transport.
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In Germany, Greenpeace objects to the Germany ticket, that it can only be successful with better public transport and restrictions on car traffic. The passenger association Pro Bahn criticized the nationwide ticket that there were a number of exceptions that the passengers had to look for themselves. In Saxony, Pro Bahn and the consumer advice center criticized the fact that access with a smartphone app or pure online sales were not barrier-free. There is also a lack of additional tickets for bicycles, dogs or other people; Due to many internal regulations for such things, there is again a jungle of tariffs.
(anw)
