The Daily Express has launched a poll asking readers for their thoughts on whether the UK should follow Germany’s lead on launching a low cost monthly national travel pass, allowing travel across the entire network.
Germany is launching a €49 (£43) per month pass which allows users unlimited travel by rail, tram and bus anywhere in the country, and readers are being asked to consider whether the same sort of scheme would work well on Britain’s rail network.
The results so far are overwhelmingly in favour, with 93% of respondents voting ‘yes’, suggesting that people quite fancy the idea of a set price train network. Only 6% of people thought that it was a bad idea, and 1% were undecided.
However, despite the positive reaction in the poll, the comments on the piece were less than complimentary about the idea (and, in fact, the rail network in general…).
One reader was cynical about how the ticket would be funded, saying: “And which taxes will be increased to pay for this? Nothing is ‘free’.”
Another was concerned about how useful the pass would be for many people with poor access to train travel, saying: “At what cost – and also, many rural residents have no local access to the rail network. The UK rail network in terms of access is far poorer than Germany. Local subsidised bus travel would be far more acceptable.”
Others were far more positive though.
“If we believe people should be able to get to work easily, especially the one of low wages, then yes.” Said one reader.
Another said: “Great idea even if l never used it l would have one just in case!!”
So, based on the comments, a mixed bag – but you can’t argue with the figures, and it looks like this is something people are really keen to explore.
It was certainly popular with users in Germany. When the ‘Deutschlandticket’ was announced earlier this month it was met with overwhelming public support. It follows an earlier short-term version of a similar scheme in the summer, where a €9 monthly ticket was available for three months, providing super-cheap travel over the summer.
Described as “the largest experiment Germany has ever undertaken on its local public transport system,” has helped consumers deal with record-high inflation in the country and encouraged the use of public transport across the country.
The new scheme intends to cut CO2 emissions and help people manage the cost of living crisis. It is available to all, regardless of nationality and does not require pre-booking.
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