The Deutschlandticket is getting more expensive: The transport ministers agreed on a price increase to 58 euros. This is intended to cover the financing in the long term.
The Deutschlandticket will cost 58 euros per month from next year. The transport ministers of the federal states agreed on an increase of 9 euros from January 1, 2025, as NRW department head Oliver Krischer told the German Press Agency.
“The agreement at the special conference of transport ministers shows that the states want to hold on to the successful Deutschlandticket model and develop it further,” said the Green politician and current chairman of the conference of transport ministers. “With this price, we will be able to keep the ticket attractive and put the financing on a more solid footing.”
Discussions about the price of the Deutschlandticket
Before the conference, there was still disagreement. While Bavaria had proposed a price of 64 euros per month to cover costs, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Baden-Württemberg, among others, spoke out in favor of lower price increases.
A price that was too high would jeopardise the attractiveness of the ticket, it was said. Nevertheless, the countries made it clear before the meeting that solid and long-term financing was essential.
The Deutschlandticket, currently priced at 49 euros per month, has been valid since May 1, 2023. It entitles you to travel on all local and regional buses and trains nationwide, but not on long-distance trains. The ticket is intended as a subscription, but can be canceled monthly. For commuters, especially in metropolitan areas, it is often cheaper than other season tickets.
Constant dispute over financing
The dispute over the financing of the Deutschlandticket is as old as the subscription itself. The transport companies are suffering high revenue losses due to the cheaper offer. The federal and state governments had originally agreed to each compensate for this by half. The regionalization funds with which the federal government supports the states in providing public transport were increased for this purpose.
So far, the federal government and the states have each contributed around 1.5 billion euros. In July, the Bundestag passed a new version of the Regionalization Act. The change in the law means that funds not used in previous years can be used to finance the Deutschlandticket next year. This is intended to compensate for possible financial disadvantages for the states.
The new price is intended to secure long-term financing for the Deutschlandticket. The ticket simplifies the tariff structure of many transport associations throughout Germany and is therefore often described by politicians and business people as a success model. Around 13 million people across Germany currently use the Deutschlandticket.
Source: Stern
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