HSL is draining students’ wallets – ticket prices must not rise!
The HSL Board has been presented with a proposal for an annual fare increase of as much as 6.4 per cent. In addition, there has been discussion about reducing the student discount from 40 to 30 per cent. In the worst case, the price of a student’s monthly ticket could increase by more than 20 euros.
‘The constant increase in ticket prices particularly threatens the ability of students and other low-income groups to use public transport. Students’ financial situation is already extremely difficult due to rising living costs and cuts to student support’, outlines AYY Board Member Katariina Kokkonen.
HSL’s monthly student ticket price has increased by more than 75 per cent over the past ten years. At the same time, the purchasing power of the study grant has declined by one-third, equivalent to 130 euros.
Expenses from developing public transport infrastructure, such as the metro and tramways, must not be passed on to ticket buyers through fare increases. Instead, the owning municipalities should negotiate and find a sustainable and fair solution for infrastructure compensation to maintain public transport affordable and accessible for all.
‘The HSL Board must ensure that public transport is an attractive and accessible option for all residents, including students’, outlines AYY Board Member Katariina Kokkonen.
Further information:
Katariina Kokkonen
Board Member: Social Policy
katariina.kokkonen@ayy.fi
+358 40 045 6380
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