THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
To offset the impact of rising energy prices caused by the Ukraine war and encourage the use of public transport, the German government introduced a subsidised nationwide ticket which costs only 9 euros per month for travels on public transport during ninety days in the summer. The upper chamber of the federal parliament approved the plan last Friday, clearing the way for its commencement on 1 June.
This is what you should know about the ticket:
Period of validity
- The 9-Euro Ticket is offered for the months of June, July and August.
- It is valid until the end of the month in which it is purchased irrespective of when it was purchased during the month. Again, the 9-Euro-Ticket expires with the end of the month in which it’s bought!
- The monthly ticket does not renew automatically.
Who is eligible to buy the ticket?
- Everybody including tourists visiting the country during the period.
Where and when can I buy the ticket?
- The 9-Euro Ticket is available through the regular sales channels where public transport tickets and subscriptions are sold. The ticket is already available for purchase at ticket machines and customer centres of all transport companies in Germany as well as
- Online via bahn.de or the DB Navigator app, besserweiter.de website and the websites and apps of the transport associations and regional transport companies.
For which use is it valid?
- You can use the monthly ticket to travel on local and regional public transport (regular buses, trams, underground trains, suburban trains, ferries and regional trains in 2nd class) throughout Germany – in all cities and across all network boundaries. If you buy the 9-Euro Ticket in Berlin, for example, you can also use it for buses and trains in other cities or towns in Germany.
- The 9-Euro Ticket is not valid for long-distance trains of the Deutsche Bahn (such as on ICE, IC, EC) and Flixtrain trains.
What applies to subscription customers and new customers?
- Subscription customers receive a credit note or a refund for the difference between their monthly subscription price and the 9-Euro Ticket. This is also valid for holders of a Job Ticket, Pupil Ticket or Semester Ticket for students.
Is there a 9-Euro Ticket for children?
- There is no separate children’s price for this special offer. Children under 6 years of age always travel free of charge. Children aged 6 and over must then also purchase their own 9-Euro Ticket.
The subsidised ticket, part of a package of financial relief to cushion the effect of rising energy prices on citizens, aims to promote the use of public transport which should lead to a reduction in fuel consumption as people travel less with their cars.
Consumer rights groups have warned of possible congested coaches especially on weekends as people would seek to make use of the ticket to travel around during the summer.
Femi Awoniyi
