Monthly German train ticket price increases to 63 euros starting from 2026
The Germany ticket, a popular travel pass that allows users to travel throughout the country via public regional and local transport, will see a price increase from 58 euros to 63 euros per month starting from January 2026. This announcement has sparked controversy among politicians and transport companies.
The ticket, heavily subsidized by the federal government and the states, has been in use since May 2023, and around 14 million people currently make use of it. The ticket's price increase was agreed upon unanimously by the transport ministers of the states.
Oliver Krischer, North Rhine-Westphalia's transport minister and a member of the Greens, has criticised the federal government for reneging on its promise to keep the price stable until 2029. The politician legally responsible for the price increase, Christian Bernreiter, who is the Bavarian Minister of Transport, concluded the agreement at the special conference of the transport ministers of the federal states.
The financial dispute between the federal government and the states has led to the renewed price increase. Both sides could not provide more money, leaving the only remaining option as another price increase. A cost index that takes into account wage and energy costs, among other things, will be established by the autumn of 2025.
The Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) expects a massive funding gap of around 800 million euros by 2026 without "dynamic adjustment." The price increase, however, does not close the funding gap for 2026, according to the VDV.
The coalition agreement of CDU, CSU, and SPD states that the price should only be gradually and socially acceptable increased from 2029 onwards. From 2027, the price of the nationwide valid Germany ticket will be determined by a fixed mechanism. This mechanism may even lead to a decrease in the price due to deflation.
The transport minister, Schnorr, sees the negotiated compromise as a "clear implementation of the coalition agreement" because the ticket remains and there is now more planning security. The Alliance Pro Rail, however, stated that the price increase would shock many people and hardly lead to increasing subscription numbers.
State ministers from the federal government have blamed the price increase on the coalition's breach of contract before the transport ministers' conference. The ticket price had risen from 49 euros to 58 euros at the beginning of the year. The expected additional costs for transport companies are the sticking point in the negotiations.
From October 2025, a cost index will be established to help determine the ticket's price. The federal government and the states have agreed to provide 1.5 billion euros each until 2030 to support the Germany ticket. This financial support is aimed at easing the burden on transport companies and keeping the ticket affordable for the public.
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