Should rail network fees be reduced for passenger trains in the future, following the freight route? If the election manifestos of the SPD, the Greens, and the Left Party are anything to go by, the answer is a clear yes! However, FlixBus isn't so enthusiastic about this. Munich residents even fear the "loss" of smaller to medium-sized cities.
“In terms of transport policy, I would consider this complete madness,”
This is the clear opinion of FlixBus boss André Schwämmlein to the German Press Agency about the current considerations to reduce rail network fees for passenger trains and extend the motorway toll to buses. He continued:
"The DB lobby wouldn't need to say, 'Leave us a few billion more and at the same time shift a few million more costs to the FlixBus people.'"
According to Schwämmlein, these additional costs for the company could lead to smaller to medium-sized cities being removed from the FlixBus map, as trips there would no longer be profitable. He also has strong words on the issue of bus tolls. In his opinion, those in favor of this should also clearly commit to the following statement:
“We want a bus toll, and we want students and pensioners to pay ten percent more for their tickets.”
