Cabinet plans €49 public transport ticket as fuel crisis deepens

A cut-price monthly ticket for buses, trams and trains is being mooted as one of the options to offset rising transport and energy costs, government sources have told NOS.

The cabinet is considering adopting a plan by left-wing opposition party Progressief Nederland, formerly GroenLinks-PvdA, to allow passengers to travel for €49 a month from this summer.

Party leader Jesse Klaver said the plan would cost the government €118 million a year, but create an incentive for people to use public transport during a period of high fuel prices and looming oil shortages.

“Cheaper public transport is good for people’s wallets and will help with the energy crisis,” Klaver said.

The idea is based on a similar scheme introduced in Germany following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, offering unlimited travel across the county for €9 a month. The popular but costly programme was replaced by the Deutschlandticket, which currently costs €63 a month.

MPs will debate a package of measures on Wednesday that the government has drawn up to compensate for the spike in fuel and energy prices.

They include a 2 cent increase in the expenses allowance, a freeze on road tax for lorries and a cut for other commercial vehicles, and an extra €195 million for an emergency fund to help households that are struggling to pay their bills.

However, finance minister Eelco Heinen has rejected calls to cut the rate of fuel duty, unlike Germany, where pump prices are being reduced by 17 cents a litre for two months.