Swiss public transport groups criticise discounted tickets

Public transport: criticism of generalised discounts on season tickets Keystone-SDA

Swiss transport associations are critical of initiatives to generally reduce the price of public transport.

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They say that if income from ticket and season ticket sales falls, there is a risk that there will be a lack of money for good public transport services in the future.

Last Sunday the citizens of Zurich voted in favour of discounted public transport season tickets for all, contrary to the recommendation of the city parliament.

However, a good mobility offer is needed first and foremost to attract more passengers to public transport, the Association of Public Transport (VöV) told the Swiss News Agency Keystone-SDA.

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The challenges facing public transport also vary from region to region, it said.

The public transport information service (Litra) and the public transport industry organisation Alliance Swiss Pass are also critical of general discounts. Public transport always costs the same, even if customers pay less – in the end, the taxpayer pays more, they said.

The density and quality of public transport also requires investment, they added.

Translated from German by DeepL/ts

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