Riding the Rollercoaster: Germany Ticket's Future Remains Unclear
German Ticket Party Rides High
Hop on board, folks! The epic saga of the German railway ticket continues, with its fate beyond 2025 hanging in the balance. The federal government and states have locked horns over funding, leaving passengers and the transport industry in a state of uncertainty.
At a recent meeting in Berlin, federal and state transport ministers couldn't agree on a budget for the upcoming year. The elephant in the room? How the transport companies' additional costs will be covered. There was no resolution on the subscription's future price, either—it currently costs 58 euros per month.
"We've got your back, Germany ticket," declared Bavaria's Transport Minister, Christian Bernreiter (CSU), post-meeting. The states, he stressed, can't shoulder more than the 1.5 billion euros they've already pledged. More talks are on the horizon at the autumn VMK conference in Straubing.
Green on the Scene: "58 Euros is Too Rich for My Blood!"
In the Union-SPD coalition agreement, it was agreed that the ticket price would maintain stability for some years. "Now, it's the federal finance minister's job to see it through," said Bernreiter. "That means, the federal government must take on the additional costs," added Saarland's Transport Minister, Petra Berg (SPD). The coalition agreement stipulates that price hikes will only occur from 2029, with a gradual increase in user funding, as long as it's socially compatible.
Long Story Short: Three Billion isn't the 'Magic Number'
From 2023 to 2025, the states and federal government each contributed 1.5 billion euros to cover revenue losses for the transport companies. They've promised the same amount for the coming year, but Bernreiter maintains that three billion won't cut it. The rest, he suggests, falls on the federal government's shoulders.
Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder is having none of that, however. Before the meeting, he'd already vetoed the idea: "The federal government is ready to offer a 1.5 billion euro subsidy for 2026," he said. "I don't have any wiggle room given the tight budget situation and savings requirements in the federal budget."
Introduced in May 2023, the subscription provides unfettered access to urban, local, and regional German transport for just 58 euros per month. Prices for many commuters' tickets were much steeper and less comprehensive before regional transport associations went local.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story! For the latest news, keep an eye on official German government announcements.
Source: ntv.de, mpa/dpa/rts/AFP
- Germany
- Germany ticket
- Local transport
- Federal states
- Federal government
- Transport policy
- Patrick Schnieder
- Prices
- The ongoing debate over the Germany Ticket's future price has sparked discussions within the realm of German transport policy, with ministers from both federal and state levels emphasizing the need for the federal government to take on additional costs to maintain the ticket's affordability as mentioned in the Union-SPD coalition agreement.
- As the Germany Ticket's price stability was agreed upon in the coalition agreement, there has been a focus on finding asocially compatible solution for a gradual increase in user funding from 2029, avoiding excessive price hikes as has been the case for many local transport commuters' tickets before the Germany Ticket's introduction.
- In light of the Germany ticket being introduced in May 2023, the general-news sphere has been buzzing with updates on the ongoing budget discussions between federal and state ministers, with the future of the country's local transportation sector closely linked to the successful resolution of vocational training funding issues within the industry, particularly as the Germany Ticket's financial viability remains uncertain following the recent meeting in Berlin.
