Into the new training year by bus and train

With the end of the summer holidays on 30 August, many pupils and trainees start the new training year. For first-graders, life begins in earnest, trainees start their vocational training and a new chapter begins for those transferring from primary school to secondary school or grammar school. "For many young passengers, this also means new journeys on buses and trains," says Martin Haase, fare manager at Verkehrsverbund Oberelbe (VVO). "In addition to ticket-related questions, the companies and the association are also providing information on the timetable changes at the start of the school year." There will be some changes to regional bus services in particular.

If pupils often travel by bus and train after school and at weekends, a subscription to the SchülerFreizeitTicket, which is financially supported by the Free State of Bavaria, is a worthwhile addition. For ten euros a month, pupils can travel throughout the entire network on school days from 2 p.m. and all day on weekends and public holidays. The AzubiTicket Sachsen, which is also supported by the Free State of Saxony, is worthwhile for trainees: "The special thing about the ticket is that everyone can put it together as they need it," emphasises Martin Haase: "For a transport association, such as the VVO, the ticket costs 48 euros per month as a subscription, but you can add other associations for five euros each."

If young passengers use discounted weekly, monthly or monthly season tickets, the AzubiTicket Sachsen or the SchülerfreizeitTicket, they need a customer card. The card is available free of charge from the VVO and the transport companies. Once completed, with a passport photo and, for passengers aged 15 and over, stamped by the school or a transport company, the customer cards are valid for one year.

At the start of the new school year, the twelve companies in the VVO are also adapting their timetables and capacities to the increasing number of passengers and new routes. From 31 August, more buses, trams and trains will be on the move again throughout the VVO.

All information on tickets and timetable changes as of 31 August as well as the customer card are available at all service points and on the information hotline on 0351 / 852 65 55. All information is available online on the company websites and at www.vvo-online.de.