Railway staff in Germany fear train chaos ahead of €9 monthly pass

Many in Germany are looking forward to the introduction of a €9 monthly pass for bus and rail this summer. Some do not, reported dpa.

Employees from the country's main railway operator Deutsche Bahn are worried about overcrowded trains and have asked for more staff.

"We welcome the €9 monthly pass but fear congestion especially in holiday regions," Ralf Damde, vice chair of the DB Regio general works council, told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland media group on Sunday.

In order to prevent delays due to overcrowded trains, additional staff are needed at stations in tourist hotspots, he said.

"We are also calling for additional security forces to clear crowded trains and platforms when needed. Otherwise, chaos could break out," Damde said.

Buses, trams, subways and trains in major German cities are to be covered under the monthly pass, valid in June, July and August. Regional trains taking travellers between cities and towns are also part of the deal, but inter-city travel with the country's high-speed ICE rail services will still require a separate ticket.

In what officials say is a one-time-only experiment, Germany is seeking to both reduce the cost of travel amid rising fuel prices and heavy inflation, as well as to make city trips more attractive to tourists and reduce the number of cars in congested cities.

Damde said it was necessary to clarify whether the ticket also entitles passengers to take bicycles with them free of charge. Apart from 40 to 50 double-decker units, little had been done to provide additional cars for the expected rise in passengers, he said.