Oslo postpones the introduction of discounted transport ticket
A discounted flexible ticket option for passengers on Oslo's public transport network has been pushed back due to a new tax cutting into the city council's budget.
A flexible ticket option which could save public transport passengers between 20-40 percent a month compared to the cost of multiple single tickets has been pushed back, Oslo City Council has announced.
Oslo City Council had set aside around 206 million kroner to fund the new flexi-ticket. However, a new government tax on hydropower means the scheme will be introduced in April 2023 rather than January.
A new government-proposed tax on hydropower would result in the municipality losing up to 1 billion kroner in dividends from its municipality-owned energy firm Hafslund.
This is in addition to several state grants to the city being cut, leading to a drop in income of between 2 and 3 billion kroner, public broadcaster NRK reports.
Einar Wilhelmsen, finance councillor in Oslo, told the newspaper Dagavisen that putting together a budget with such a hit to the balance sheet was a tricky task.
"It has been a demanding exercise," he said of the budget.
When launched, the new flexible ticket will benefit those who use public transport in the city frequently but not often enough to make the 814 kroner monthly ticket worth it. The new scheme has been tested by 400 Ruter customers since February.
The ticket will track how many singles you have bought in the previous 30 days. If you make less than 21 trips on Oslo's bus, tram and metro network, the new ticketing option will be cheaper than a monthly ticket per journey.
Comments
See Also
A flexible ticket option which could save public transport passengers between 20-40 percent a month compared to the cost of multiple single tickets has been pushed back, Oslo City Council has announced.
Oslo City Council had set aside around 206 million kroner to fund the new flexi-ticket. However, a new government tax on hydropower means the scheme will be introduced in April 2023 rather than January.
A new government-proposed tax on hydropower would result in the municipality losing up to 1 billion kroner in dividends from its municipality-owned energy firm Hafslund.
This is in addition to several state grants to the city being cut, leading to a drop in income of between 2 and 3 billion kroner, public broadcaster NRK reports.
Einar Wilhelmsen, finance councillor in Oslo, told the newspaper Dagavisen that putting together a budget with such a hit to the balance sheet was a tricky task.
"It has been a demanding exercise," he said of the budget.
When launched, the new flexible ticket will benefit those who use public transport in the city frequently but not often enough to make the 814 kroner monthly ticket worth it. The new scheme has been tested by 400 Ruter customers since February.
The ticket will track how many singles you have bought in the previous 30 days. If you make less than 21 trips on Oslo's bus, tram and metro network, the new ticketing option will be cheaper than a monthly ticket per journey.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.