German lawmakers ensure continued availability of Deutschlandticket in the year 2025
Germany's Deutschlandticket Secured for 2026, Future Remains Uncertain
The popular Deutschlandticket, which offers nationwide travel on regional and local transport for €49 per month, has been extended through 2026 with guaranteed funding. However, the future of the ticket beyond that remains uncertain.
Introduced in May 2023, the Deutschlandticket has seen widespread uptake, with around 14 million users as of mid-2025. The ticket's full potential can only be realized if it is permanently secured, according to Greenpeace transport expert Marion Tiemann.
The current financial framework for the ticket involves joint funding by the federal and state governments with equal annual contributions. However, ongoing debates over financing have led to a €9 price hike for the Deutschlandticket, effective from the start of 2025.
The federal government will provide a €1.5 billion subsidy to compensate for the loss of revenue for transport companies caused by the ticket. This subsidy will be matched by the states.
The Bundestag and Bundesrat have approved an amendment to the Regionalisation Act, allowing the Deutschlandticket to continue throughout next year. However, financing for the ticket is only secured for 2025, with snap elections scheduled in February, leaving the future of the travel pass uncertain.
The CDU/CSU alliance, currently leading in the polls, has been sceptical of the Deutschlandticket. Despite this, Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing calls for the transport deal to be continued. Wissing sees the Deutschlandticket as a digitalization offensive for local public transport.
Lawmakers will allow the transfer of unused state subsidies from 2023 to be carried forward. This could help secure the ticket's future beyond 2025. However, the ticket may require a new plan or redesign after that.
Greenpeace and other environmental groups have criticized the financing of the Deutschlandticket as still causing losses for states and transport operators. They argue that a permanent plan for financing the ticket is necessary to ensure its long-term viability.
For those in rural areas, the Deutschlandticket could save up to €200 per month compared to a regional travel pass. However, people in rural areas have fewer options for using the Deutschlandticket, according to a CSU parliamentarian.
The debate over financing the Deutschlandticket will continue into next year, according to Greenpeace. The CDU-led coalition in Berlin recently scrapped a local version of the ticket, branded the €29 ticket, as part of sweeping budget cuts for 2025. The SPD, Greens, CDU/CSU, and FDP agreed on a new funding plan for the Deutschlandticket in the Bundestag.
In summary, while the Deutschlandticket is currently secure and politically supported through 2026, its future beyond that depends on successfully establishing stable, coordinated funding and controlled pricing policies as advocated by the CDU/CSU and aligned states. The future of the ticket remains uncertain, with financing only secured for 2025 and snap elections scheduled in February.
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