Dispute over Germany ticket: Remaining price causes uncertainty!

Dispute over Germany ticket: Remaining price causes uncertainty!

On November 14, 2025, Brandenburg's Transport Minister Detlef Tabbert called for urgent action to secure the financial security of the Deutschlandticket. At the special transport ministers' conference in Munich, which deals with the financing of the ticket, he made it clear that there should not be disputes about price adjustments every year. This uncertainty harms passengers and could jeopardize the success of the ticket, says Tabbert. The current monthly price of 58 euros could rise to 62 to 64 euros as a result of the discussions, which would unsettle many users.

In the coalition agreement, the federal government promised to keep the price of the ticket stable until 2029. Despite this commitment, the states' hopes rest on a stable financial basis, since, in Tabbert's opinion, the federal government's annual support of 1.5 billion euros is not enough to cover the actual costs. “We expect the federal government to make improvements,” the minister concluded. Patrick Schnieder, the Federal Minister of Transport, will not be able to address this issue as he is tied up in Berlin due to the budget week.

Financing problems and future perspectives

At a meeting in Berlin, the federal and state governments were unable to agree on the future financing of the Deutschlandticket. The transport ministers are sticking to the 1.5 billion euros per year that have already been promised and are rejecting additional funds. A central point of contention is the compensation of possible additional costs that could arise from price increases or increased operating costs for transport companies. Bavaria's Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter confirmed the states' support, but without promises of additional funding. Negotiations on future financing will continue at the next regular meeting of the Conference of Transport Ministers in Straubing in the fall.

The Deutschlandticket, which has been available since May 2023, enables nationwide travel on regional and local transport. While the number of subscribers has fallen to 13.4 million from 14.5 million in summer 2022, it is becoming apparent that consumer reaction to price adjustments is becoming increasingly critical. Professional analyzes show that moderate increases primarily encourage occasional users and younger target groups to rethink. There is a financial deficit of an estimated 400 million euros for further financing, which places the responsibility for the additional costs on the federal government.

Long-term planning for the Germany ticket

The discussion about the financing of the Deutschlandticket is complicated by a lack of clear guidelines for the period after 2025. Although there is a framework in the coalition agreement that provides for a continuation of the ticket, the states fear price increases or reductions in supply. Saarland's Transport Minister Petra Berg interprets the agreement to mean that no price increase is expected until 2029, which obliges the states to bear the additional costs.

Transport experts warn of the consequences that inadequate funding could have for public transport. In order to ensure widespread acceptance of the ticket, reforms, investments in infrastructure and better networking of mobility offers are essential. Solutions should not only be monetary, but should also be treated preventatively through innovative sales strategies and digitalization.

The course of the negotiations and the upcoming decisions will be decisive in determining whether the Deutschlandticket can increase its attractiveness and user numbers again.

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