Discrimination against commuters?
NSB is Norway's largest rail system.
Some think that NSB’s strict new rules are a way to discriminate against those who commute long distances.
“We want to ask NSB about the legality of people being fined who have honestly checked the price of travel and found the option that is cheapest for them,” says Director for Transport at the Consumer Council, Anne Rygh.
On Sunday, October 2, 77 fare zones in Oslo and Akershus merged to eight. It makes public transport in Oslo and Akershus cheaper, while prices in the rest of the country do not change.
NSB now refuses commuters who have two monthly travel passes. One commuter association has calculated that a person can save hundreds of dollars by having a pass for outside Akershus and another when they cross the county border.
“We find this unreasonable,” says Rygh.
NSB says they are allowed to impose fines of up to 900 kroner on travelers who have two travel passes. It has created strong reactions.
“This is discrimination against those who come from far away. We have considered it and found out that there may be hundreds of dollars to save by buying two monthly travel passes,” said Jan Riddervoldi Mjøsen commute association.
He finds it objectionable that the NSB refuses commuters the cheaper option.
NSB said earlier to NRK that the rule about imposing fines on passengers with two travel passes can be found in their conditions of transport, which is approved by the Ministry of Transportation.
“I have read the Transport Conditions thoroughly today. It says nothing about this,” says Anne Rygh of the Consumer Council.
“It says that you must have a valid ticket. These commuters have, in our opinion, a valid, legitimate ticket and should not be treated as sneaks,” said Rygh.
Wednesday afternoon, NSB clarified that the rule against having more than one monthly pass is actually found in NSB’s own Ticket Regulations.
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