Criticism of the increase in ticket prices

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Even a day after the announcement, the anger has not subsided: industry body Swisspass Alliance wants to make public transport tickets more expensive from the end of the year. The price of one adult-only GA is set to increase CHF 220, or 5.7 percent. This means that the GA travel card will cost more than 4,000 francs for the first time. This causes criticism.

One point in particular bothers the passengers: 1st class ticket prices will increase by 1.9 percent, thus remaining well below the 2nd class ticket prices with an increase of 4.8 percent.

“Alliance Swisspass understands the solidarity increase in costs as a price increase that must be borne by its most loyal customers, commuters,” Sara Stalder (56) of the Consumer Protection Foundation criticizes.

In fact, public transport should be made more attractive, partly because of the climate issue. Therefore, Stalder sees this price increase as the opposite effect. Also, the timing was “extremely unfavorable” due to inflation.

The nonprofit Swissrailvolution considers the announced high prices a “strategic mistake”. It is also incomprehensible that the actual price increase is concentrated on the general subscription. GA lost the most customers at a rate of one-fifth during the pandemic.

“I prefer to go by car”

The Blick community also doesn’t understand the price hike. Criticized in the comments: “Obviously public transport doesn’t want more passengers.” Another user replied, “No thanks, I prefer the car.”

Even on Twitter, understanding words is searched in vain. SP co-chair Cédric Wermuth (37) tweeted: “Raising public transport prices is fundamentally wrong, given the climate crisis and the population’s loss of purchasing power due to high rents and exploding health insurance premiums.” Left-wing cultural center Reitschule Bern also criticizes the planned increase in ticket prices.

Swisspass wants more people in 1st class

Helmut Eichhorn, General Manager of Alliance Swisspass, justifies the price increase. “We have greatly expanded the offer since 2016,” he said at SRF “Tagesschau” on Tuesday evening.

Prices in class 1 will rise less sharply to “reduce barriers to passage”. What this means is: “We want to encourage 2nd-class customers to drive more often in 1st-class,” continues Eichhorn. Because there is a little more space. It is doubtful whether this will be successful.

Price increases have not been finalized yet. First, Alliance Swisspass members need to vote. A decision is expected by the end of June. And the price monitor is still checking for ticket price increases.

Source :Blick