Public transport New Year bus and rail travel price increases
Cologne · Modest price increases are among changes announced by the Rhine-Sieg transport system for 2017. There are also new rules for short journeys, accompanying children and offers for trainees and smartphone users.
Prices for bus and train tickets in the Rhine-Sieg area will rise on average by 1.4 per cent in the new year. The price for single tickets for adults and children remains the same. The Rhine-Sieg transport system (VRS) said the price increases were the most moderate in its history. Here are details of all the changes:
Validity dates: Single, four journey and day tickets and VRS connecting tickets bought in 2016 are valid until 31 March. If they are not used by then, they can be exchanged for up to three years, until the end of 2019, with only the price difference being payable.
Short journeys: A ticket for a short journey (Kurzstrecke) now means “boarding plus 4 stops, without change on one line.” It was previously possible to change lines on a short journey.
Accompanying children: Also new in 2017, the rules for accompanying children will be further simplified and extended to include individual purchases of Monatstickets (monthly tickets) and Formel9 tickets. Holders of these tickets will be able to take up to three children aged between six and 14 years from Monday to Friday from 7pm, at weekends and on public holidays. Children under the age of six travel free on the VRS.
Trainees: From 1 August 2017, the VRS intends to implement new tariffs for trainees and apprentices. They should be able to take advantage of “attractively priced, network wide offers valid throughout the year” in the same way as schoolchildren and students.
Smartphone users: There will also be an incentive offer for smartphone users: all tickets purchased using a smartphone will receive a discount of at least three percent.
Einfach-Weiter-Ticket (single connecting ticket): In a pilot scheme to be introduced in January 2017, an Einfach-Weiter-Ticket will solve problems with the different tariffs between the VRS, the Aachen transport network (AVV) and the Rhine-Ruhr transport network (VRR). It will cost 6.40 euros for adults for a single journey in second class. Children will pay 3.20 euros.
Original text: ga. Translated by Kate Carey.
