– We are not reaching the targets for more people to travel by public transport and choose green journeys when there is no bus, says county mayor in Østfold, Sindre Martinsen-Evje (Ap). In Østfold, many lose their bus from Monday to week. In Buskerud, 10 percent of the bus service is already gone. – I would characterize that as critical. It is very special at a time when we encourage people to travel by public transport, says county mayor Tore Opdal Hansen (H). In Akershus, it is planned that the tickets will be more expensive next year. In Oslo, Ruter and Sporveien say they have too little money to run trams and subways. The city council, for its part, guarantees that there will be no route cuts. More about Oslo later. Hearing in the Storting The collective cuts in Eastern Norway are due to ailing county finances. According to the counties, only more money from the state can save public transport. This week, a number of county leaders are begging in the Storting. There is a hearing in the transport committee about the state budget The travel discount will disappear Akershus will lose NOK 250 million as a direct result of the budget proposal from the government, according to the county council. The county council presented its proposal for the 2025 budget on Monday. – We who live in Akershus will notice that it will be more expensive to travel by public transport, acknowledges county council leader Anette Solli (H). The county council will remove the so-called Reis discount for adults, which makes the single ticket cheaper the more you travel. In addition, they are proposing a general price increase for adults on all tickets, including the monthly pass. Commuters are not impressed. – I think it’s sad. When we are going to use a smaller car, it is a strange way of thinking, says Camilla Skinnhaugen, whom news meets in Lillestrøm. COMMUTERS: Camilla Skinnhaugen. Photo: Dag Aasdalen / news – Vaklevorent – We don’t have very many sources other than the government, Oslo Package 3 and ticket revenue when it comes to financing public transport. – When one leg becomes more wobbly, it affects those who travel by public transport, says Anette Solli. Taking money from secondary schools, another major county responsibility, is not an option. – Our task is to manage to establish enough school places from now on, says the Akershus manager. AKERSHUS HEAD: County council leader Anette Solli (H). Photo: Bård Nafstad / news – Going beyond train travelers Buskerud has already cut bus routes for NOK 45 million. According to the county mayor, this corresponds to 10 percent of the bus service. – The cities that are initially affected are Hønefoss, Kongsberg and the Drammens area. says Tore Opdal Hansen. BUSKERUD CHIEF: County mayor Tore Opdal Hansen (H). Photo: Maria Kommandantvold / DKBU He hopes to make further cuts next year, but does not rule it out. – It will not only affect those who travel by bus. I am quite sure that it will also affect those who travel by train, he says. Many people take buses to the railway stations and continue to work by train. – Need crisis package In Østfold, they are cutting bus routes for NOK 54 million on Monday. Indre Østfold, Moss and Halden are hit hardest. – This means that there are mainly no buses after 6pm and at weekends. So it is unfortunately a far worse offer, says the county mayor. His message to the Storting and party colleagues from the Labor Party is clear. – We need a crisis package, says Sindre Martinsen-Evje. The county councils believe it is correct to talk about a collective crisis in Eastern Norway. – Yes, when you consider that almost half of the country’s inhabitants live in the region we are talking about, such large cuts are dramatic, says Martinsen-Evje. ØSTFOLD CHIEF: County mayor Sindre Martinsen-Evje (Ap) Photo: Malin Therese Strand / news Fears more cars into Oslo In the middle sits a concerned environmental and transport council in Oslo and sees that public transport around the city is getting more expensive and worse. Many people commute to Oslo for work. – Then of course the car becomes a much more attractive alternative. For Oslo, it could mean more traffic jams, chaos, pollution and delays. It is very serious and completely contrary to the green development we want in our region, says Marit Kristine Vea (V). – Now the Storting must take action and contribute more of a crisis package to public transport. A collective crisis is developing in Eastern Norway, she says. CONCERNED CITY COUNCIL: Oslo Environment and Transport Council, Marit Kristine Vea (V). Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news Guarantees the offer But can she herself promise that there will be no route cuts in Oslo? Ruter and Sporveien have announced that they lack more than half a billion to run trams and subways for. Yes, she says. – I have now been presented with some new figures which show that there are increased costs also for public transport in Oslo. It is of course something we take seriously, and now we have to follow the numbers. – I have given a guarantee that stands by law. It is that we will continue to develop public transport in Oslo. It is not relevant to cut the offer for Oslo’s population. – Does that mean you want to put more money on the table? – It is too early to say, says Marit Vea. – Need for more money Sigbjørn Gjelsvik from the government party The Center Party is chairman of the transport committee and will lead the hearings on the state budget there. He points to the Minister of Local Government Erling Sande (Sp) having announced that there is a need for more money for municipalities and counties. However, he has little faith in crisis packages for single purposes. NO TO CRISIS PACKAGE: Chair of the transport and communications committee at the Storting, Sigbjørn Gjelsvik (Sp). Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB – Where the needs are greatest will vary from county to county, and it is the county politicians’ responsibility to prioritize. It is the general economy of the counties that needs to be strengthened, and the government is actively working on that, says Gjelsvik. Published 23.10.2024, at 06.15 Updated 23.10.2024, at 09.07
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The counties in Eastern Norway sound the alarm about public transport cuts – Greater Oslo
