Since May 1st, the Deutschlandticket has been valid nationwide for local and regional transport for 49 euros per month. It will be cheaper for students in the future – but others feel left out.
The agreement on a Germany ticket for students initially costing 29.40 euros per month has met with a lot of approval. “We welcome this decision by the federal and state governments because it means we are closing an important gap in the overall Germany ticket offering,” said the President of the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), Ingo Wortmann, according to a statement.
The German Student Union also welcomed the agreement, but also emphasized that just under 30 euros per month for the ticket was the “upper price limit”. The Federal Student Conference was disappointed that the eleven million students in Germany were excluded from the regulation. “We students feel let down,” said Secretary General Florian Fabricius.
The federal and state governments agreed on the cheaper ticket for students on Monday evening. Around three million students could now buy a semester ticket for 29.40 euros per month based on the Germany ticket, said North Rhine-Westphalia Transport Minister Oliver Krischer (Greens) as chairman of the transport ministers’ conference of the states. The nationwide uniform semester ticket could start in the summer semester of 2024, provided that the general student committees quickly conclude the necessary contracts with the transport companies.
Demands for the social ticket
The Germany ticket, which was introduced on May 1st, regularly costs 49 euros per month. It entitles you to freely use local and regional transport throughout Germany. Recently there have been many discussions about the long-term financing of the ticket and the distribution of costs between the federal and state governments. The price of the ticket could increase next year – and with it the price for students. On Monday evening it was agreed that the Germany ticket for students would always be discounted by 40 percent.
“The agreement will make it easier for students to travel sustainably nationwide in the future, and at an affordable price. An important step in the right direction,” commented the Ecological Transport Club of Germany on the agreement. But more offers would now have to follow. “A youth ticket, a ticket for trainees and those doing voluntary service and of course a social ticket – all valid nationwide and for a maximum of 29 euros per year,” demanded the transport club.
The German Association of Cities also praised the agreement, but also emphasized that the expansion of local public transport should not be forgotten. “Traveling by bus and train must remain attractive and be further expanded. That is why the expansion and modernization pact for local public transport must continue quickly,” said the city association.
Source: Stern
