Actually, everyone thinks that the new ticket for buses and trains throughout the country is a success. But then there was a serious problem with money again. Now a way out is in sight – will it soon be more expensive?
After weeks of argument and warnings that the Deutschlandticket would be scrapped, the federal and state governments have agreed on steps towards further financing. Funds not used this year should be able to be used in 2024 to compensate for financial disadvantages caused by cheaper tickets with transport companies.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the Prime Ministers agreed on this on Monday evening in Berlin, as the German Press Agency learned from participants. The price of 49 euros per month, which is expressly considered the “introductory price”, also comes into focus. The transport ministers should now develop a concept for the implementation of the 2024 ticket.
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) welcomed the agreement between the federal and state governments and described the ticket on Tuesday as a great success. The chairman of the Prime Minister’s Conference, Boris Rhein (CDU) from Hesse, said before the meeting with Scholz that the ticket for buses and trains in local transport throughout Germany was a successful model. “We want to keep it going.” The federal and state governments have now agreed on a course of action – but with still outstanding points.
Operation Redeployment
According to an agreement at the end of 2022, both sides will each contribute 1.5 billion euros this year and next year to compensate for loss of income among bus and train operators. But the sticking point recently was any additional costs beyond that. It has only been agreed that the federal and state governments will each pay half of it for the introductory year of 2023. The transport industry and states have long been demanding this for 2024. There was no longer any talk of that. Unused money from 2023 should be able to serve as a buffer, which requires a change in the law. The transport ministers’ intended concept is intended to exclude “a further obligation to make additional contributions by the federal and state governments” in 2024.
Accurate interim billing
It is not yet possible to quantify what additional costs there will actually be. The federal and state governments are therefore aiming for a precise “peak bill” for 2023 and 2024, which the states should make once final data for both years is available. According to a forecast by the Association of Transport Companies, losses for the industry this year are likely to be 2.3 billion euros, after the ticket only started at the beginning of May. In full year 2024 it should be 4.1 billion euros. With six billion euros in subsidies for 2023 and 2024, the bottom line could be a gap of 400 million euros.
The ball for the financial concept
Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) said before the consultation with Scholz that the transfer of unused funds from 2023 creates the basis for the ticket to continue next year. “The transport ministers have to tell us whether and in what form this will have an impact on pricing.” In this respect, the ball is handed back to the ministers. The federal and state governments commission the Conference of Transport Ministers to present a concept – in good time before May 1, 2024. Then the ticket will be one year old. To this end, the federal and state governments should agree on further financing and a mechanism for updating the ticket price, “which may also include an increase.”
The tricky question of price
It was always clear in principle that the tempting starting price of 49 euros could one day rise like other tariffs. But now a possible increase is being put on the table as a financing element for 2024. The environmental organization Greenpeace promptly criticized Scholz for wanting to adorn himself with the D-Ticket but not wanting to pay for it. That couldn’t work. “If customers expect a price increase at any time, then that will stifle the success of the ticket before it has even really arrived,” said Greenpeace expert Clara Thompson. The federal and state governments emphasized that they wanted to further develop the ticket, simplify it and make it more digital. And the goal is also to “reduce possible financing deficits as much as possible with a successful transition offensive.”
Wissing praises Deutschlandticket
Federal Transport Minister Wissing called on the state transport ministers to “work objectively on the success of the Deutschlandticket and to stop questioning it without necessity.” The resolution once again reaffirms the financial concept agreed upon last year and shows that the debate initiated by the states about the financing of the Germany ticket was completely unnecessary. He described the Germany ticket as a great success. Countries should recognize this opportunity and do everything they can to ensure that subscription numbers continue to rise. “The next steps are more digitalization of the public transport offering, the abandonment of competing products and a consistent simplification of the structures.”
Source: Stern
