Merkel supports free tickets to Bundeswehri soldiers

The initiative for free train tickets to Bundeswehr soldiers made German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Carrenbauer (CDU) public in its government statement in late July. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is now supported.

German government spokesman Stephen Seibert said Monday in Berlin that the Chancellor greets and strongly supports the initiative.
They're people who are in service to us every day, and with the free train ticket we have a chance -- and this shouldn't be the only one to show gratitude and thanks to”, Seibert said, according to news agency, dpa.

But according to German magazine data, “Spiegel” Talks between the government and the German Railway, Deutsche Bahn, are not that easy.
The railway wants to support German soldiers with free tickets only on trains that do not have many passenger bookings, and also used by other passengers with ticket fares.

A spokesman for the Defence Ministry in Berlin said that talks with the German Railway, Deutsche Bahn, are held in part by Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer himself. The initiative is not new, negotiations with the German Railway are held since the beginning of the year, writes dpa. /DW