Traffic
At the Germany ticket, there is again an uncertainty
The Germany ticket is to be continued beyond the end of the year. But how exactly should the additional costs be financed?
Users of the Germany ticket threatens uncertainty due to a financial dispute from the federal and state governments. It is about how exactly the nationwide ticket will be financed in local and regional traffic from the coming year. In a survey by the German Press Agency, country representatives demanded quick political decisions – however, there is no uniform position of the federal states. It is questionable whether the ticket price of currently 58 euros per month remains stable.
On June 27, the future of the Germany ticket should also be at a special ministry of transport ministers of the federal states with Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU).
“It is important that we get a clear financing framework and planning security at the Germany ticket,” said NRW Transport Minister Oliver Krischer (Greens). Baden-Württemberg’s Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Greens) criticized: “The constant discussions about the future of the Germany ticket and its price are counterproductive and do not bring us further.”
In recent years there had been long disputes between the federal and state governments through the financing of the ticket, which was introduced in May 2023. Around 13 million people use the ticket that can be used to drive with buses and trains in local and regional traffic throughout Germany – regardless of state, transport association or tariff area. The price of the ticket was raised by around 18 percent from 49 euros to 58 euros a month at the beginning of the year.
Unclear financing from 2026
To finance the ticket, the federal and state governments are currently shooting 1.5 billion euros per year in order to compensate for loss of income for transport companies. Because most usual commuter subscriptions were much more expensive before. Funding in the regionalization law is fixed – but only for 2025. The question is, as it will continue from 2026. At the end of 2024, a transfer of so -called over -year -olds had been decided – it was primarily about money from 2023 because the ticket only started in May. The ticket together with the price increase was secured financially for 2025.
From the point of view of the Association of German Transport Companies, the three billion euros provided by the federal and state governments are not permanently sufficient annually to compensate for the loss of the industry.
At the federal level, the CDU, CSU and SPD have known in their coalition agreement to continue the Germany ticket beyond 2025. From 2029, however, users must adjust to a significantly higher price, because from this year the proportion of user financing is to be increased “gradually and socially acceptable”. The question is whether the federal and state governments can already agree on a fixed price mechanism – also at possible price increases so that there are not disputes year after year.
BUND: Countries should find a common position
Schnieder had asked the countries to find a common position to further finance the ticket. He made it clear that the federal government would not bear more than half of the costs. The federal government is also under consolidation pressure.
Countries want clarity
Many countries demand that there must be planning security – and the federal government must cover possible additional costs. For example, a spokesman for the Bavarian Ministry of Transport said that the federal government had to assure the countries a reliable financing for the continuation of the ticket. “Due to the tense budget situation, it is currently not possible for the countries to raise more than 1.5 billion euros per year for the ticket.” Bavaria has the chair of the Conference of Transport Ministers. By the end of July, Schnieder should submit a draft law to be able to continue the ticket in 2026.
NRW Minister of Transport Krischer demanded that the BUND should unload the ticket, fix the price by at least 2028 and to cover the country’s share by law. With “questionable tax gifts”, the federal government burdened the state budgets with billions of billions, he said with a view to planned tax relief for companies. It would only be logical if the federal government covered additional costs of the Germany ticket. “In any case, the question must be clarified quickly and the Federal Minister of Transport clearly positions itself so as not to further unsettle customers.”
Lower Saxony’s Minister of Transport Grant Hendrik Tonne (SPD) said that the federal government and countries had to work united in a solution for financing. The existing half of the costs is fair and has proven itself.
From the point of view of the Brandenburg Transport Minister Detlef Tabbert (BSW), the federal government must primarily take over the financing. “The current participation of 1.5 billion euros each, in view of the tense households, is a border for the federal states. There is nothing more,” he wrote together with his counterpart from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Wolfgang Blank, in an opinion contribution to the “Tagesspiegel”.
Berlin’s governing mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) said that if the federal government ordered something, he had to ensure a compensation. “Otherwise, the countries will simply no longer be able to afford it, even if they want.” The easiest way would be if the federal government made this offer available and would then be fully financed.
The Saarland made it clear that the federal government had to finance possible additional costs of the ticket. A spokesman for the Hamburg traffic authority said that Hamburg was ready to make his contribution to the financing and continuation of the ticket – but responsibility is primarily with the federal government.
“Death Bace” for the ticket?
Thuringia’s Minister of Transport Steffen Schütz (BSW) said that he did not conclude maximum demands, according to which the federal government should mainly bear costs. Such a regulation is desirable, but unrealistic. “A withdrawal of the funding countries would probably mean the death blow for the ticket.” The financing of half the cost of Thuringia poses considerable financial challenges. “In view of the cost increases and our tense budget situation, I would be very happy if the federal government takes over a somewhat larger proportion.” From Saxony it was said that a higher proportion or the full assumption of costs of the federal government would be desirable.
The aim is to keep the price for users constant, the Ministry of Transport in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Whether this succeeds depends on negotiations with the federal government and various parameters, for example general cost increases and wage increases.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Transport in Schleswig-Holstein said that at least the federal and state governments would have to bring in 1.5 billion euros each. But that won’t be enough. What this means specifically for price increases or for increasing the financing by the federal government and possibly countries is still in the discussion. The Saxon Ministry of Infrastructure declared to prevent abbreviations would have to be compensated for by public subsidies or fare income.
Reliable financing
Saxony-Anhalt Infrastructure Minister Lydia Hüskens (FDP) demanded that the intake and load compensation should be permanently and clearly regulated. “Otherwise, the counties and transport companies will remain uncertain.” It speaks for the fact that the price of the ticket will be formed by an index, such as the price increases in the traffic sector. In any case, the price “get out of the political determination”.
dpa
Source: Stern
