Nine-euro ticket in public transport: the first step to free fares and the right to mobility?

dossier

"The United Services Union (ver.di) also assesses the three-month reduction in the price of public transport provided for in the government's package of measures as positive. In addition to the other planned measures, this will help to relieve the burden on the population and also increase the attractiveness of local public transport. (...) "We are not yet one step closer to the political goal of doubling public transport by 2030. The conference of transport ministers must now set the course for a common strategy for the transport transition. This includes Expansion of offerings, investments in infrastructure and, above all, attractive working conditions in order to end the shortage of skilled workers..." ver.di press release from March 25, 2022 (ver.di welcomes the 90-day, 9-euro ticket in the relief package and demands a strategy for the transport transition from the Conference of Transport Ministers), see contributions here from both the perspective of customers and mobility employees (and below for the background):

• The Germany ticket is becoming more and more expensive, but there are billions for the fuel discount?
  • Unequal funding: fuel becomes cheaper, Germany ticket more expensive
    “The local transport subscription will cost 66.80 euros per month next year. Meanwhile, the federal government is putting a lot of money into the fuel discount. A wrong priority, associations believe.
    The price jump had been feared for months, but now it has been confirmed: from January 1, 2027, the Germany ticket will no longer cost 63.00 euros, but 66.80 euros per month. Representatives of the federal states announced this on Wednesday afternoon. From January onwards, the Germany ticket as a job ticket will cost 63.46 euros, and the semester ticket for students will cost 40.08 euros per month. (…)
    In order to ease the burden on drivers when refueling, the federal government recently decided on a new refueling discount. In June and July it had already curbed fuel prices by reducing the energy tax - and this cost 1.6 billion euros. The new fuel discount will come into force on October 1st, meaning the federal government will forego at least another 2.5 billion euros in tax revenue. (…) “Billions are quickly mobilized for a fuel discount,” criticized Pauline Schur, climate and transport team leader at the German Nature Conservation Association (Nabu), on Wednesday. “But when it comes to affordable public transport, the people who use buses and trains should dig deeper into their pockets.” Schur demands: “If you want to relieve people’s burdens and enable them to switch to climate-friendly mobility, they must not make public transport a savings option.”…”Article by Nanja Boenisch from September 30, 2026 in the taz online 
  • Political web error on the Germany ticket. Passenger association PRO BAHN criticizes another price increase
    “The passenger association PRO BAHN criticizes the increase in the Germany ticket from 63 to 66.80 euros from January 2027. The federal and state governments are setting the wrong priorities: Since October 1st, they have been making petrol and diesel cheaper by around 17 cents per liter with the fuel discount, while they are passing on the price increases in public transport to the passengers. The fuel discount costs up to 2.5 billion euros for three months. The federal and state governments together provide 3 billion euros per year for the Deutschlandticket, fixed by law until 2030. Anyone who reduces the burden on diesel and petrol and increases the price of the Deutschlandticket sets the incentive to change in the wrong direction. The passenger association PRO BAHN is calling for price adjustments to be tied to the inflation rate in the future and for the rest to be covered by public funds and efficiency gains…”Press release from October 5, 2026 from the PRO BAHN passenger association 
  • “We can't afford the Germany ticket.”Post by Michael Albert from October 3rd, 2026 on bsky to the graphic from Correctiv "Germany ticket in comparison. This is what transport subsidies cost (annual costs for the state through payments or reduced tax revenue in billions of euros)"
• Germany ticket is set to become more expensive in a few months: “It’s a huge mess”
  "The Germany ticket used to cost 9 euros, then 49 euros, 58 euros and, since the turn of the year, 63 euros per month. However, train riders will soon have to prepare for the next price increase; it will most likely not stay at 63 euros in 2027. The reason is a new calculation model by the transport ministers, which the states agreed on in the spring. The subscription price should no longer be determined politically, but rather based on an index of personnel, energy and general costs. How this model affects The final price is not yet fixed. According to information from our editorial team, calculations by the Tagesspiegel already show that the price will increase by around 3.40 euros, so the cost of the subscription would rise to 66.40 euros per month (…) Criticism of the alleged price increase comes from the Left: “That’s a huge mess,” says Linke co-chief Luigi Pantisano of the Frankfurter Rundschau Ippen.Media. “Everything is becoming more expensive, and when it comes to mobility of all things, people are going to have to pay more again.” This is how mobility becomes a luxury. “The federal government is talking about climate protection and affordable mobility, and at the same time one of the most successful instruments is becoming more and more expensive,” says Pantisano, who told our editorial team that we should return to the old model. “The reintroduction of the 9 euro ticket and a nationwide price guarantee would be a real reversal of reason and could be the new Transport Minister Bilger’s finest hour.” (…) There are currently no signs of the Germany Ticket being discontinued. But the subscription model will probably be more expensive.” Article by Andreas Schmid from August 11, 2026 in the Frankfurter Rundschau online 
• Petition from Deutsche Umwelthilfe: We say NO to further subsidy gifts for drivers: Demand the €29 Germany ticket now!“…While the oil crisis is driving up prices and millions of people are suffering from high mobility costs, politicians are once again deciding on new subsidies for cars. The fuel discount is presented as a solution in times of impending fuel shortages, while the most effective relief for millions of people falls by the wayside: an affordable Germany ticket.  That's why we're now pushing for a nationwide valid 29 euro ticket for at least 12 months. Cheaper fuel ensures more consumption and more dependence on fossil fuels, instead of less! What we need is affordable mobility for everyone!..”Call from Deutsche Umwelthilfe for a petition 
• “Relief” as a billion-dollar gift to an outdated system: 29-euro Germany ticket instead of combustion engine subsidies – mobility for everyone! 
  “Since the beginning of the oil crisis, there has been constant discussion about relief for cars - CSU boss Markus Söder is calling for a further increase in the commuter allowance, and the CDU is calling for tax cuts on fuel. But what is being sold here as “relief” is actually a billion-dollar gift to an outdated system – paid for by all of us. While oil companies are making record profits, there is no real solution for people. We need social, climate-protecting and crisis-proof measures! That's exactly why we're now calling for a nationwide valid 29 euro ticket…”List of signatures from German Environmental Aid and to that:
  • “The Germany ticket costs the federal government 1.5 billion euros for the whole year. The ineffective fuel discount is said to cost 1.6 billion euros for just 2 months. (If things go like 2022, it will end up costing 3.2 billion euros per quarter.)“Post by Der Volksverpetzer from April 14, 2026 on bsky 
  • See the current background:Relief package from the federal government: “Fossil answers to the fossil crisis” – the “pragmatic view of IG Metall has arrived”, mobility for all rejected
• Price increase for the “Deutschlandticket”: Free public transport still the first and affordable option – funded by contributions and ticket-free as a way to get there?
  • New concept is intended to replace Deutschlandticket: buses and trains without controls
    “Bus and train without ticket machines and controls. An NGO has presented a concept for local transport financed by contributions – as a replacement for the Deutschlandticket.
    A kind of Germany ticket for everyone, but not for 58 euros a month as is currently the case, but for a maximum of 29 euros: This is what the concept for a contribution-financed public transport plan, which was presented on Tuesday by the NGO “Dialog-Gesundheit-Klima” (DGK) from Alfter/NRW - analogous to the GEZ fee for radio and TV. A legally regulated contribution that all adults and companies pay could then replace the Deutschlandticket and ensure the long-term expansion of local transport, according to the justification. Everyone would then be able to use local transport anywhere in Germany without a ticket.
    The amount of the Deutschlandticket replacement depends on the local public transport quality
    The amount of the contribution depends on the quality of local transport in the respective location. In medium-sized and large cities, 29 euros would be charged, in flat rural areas with little supply, only ten euros. Further income would come from companies that have good public transport (20 euros per person) and from visitors from abroad if they stay in hotels or guesthouses (three euros per night).
    According to the concept, the total income would be 21.5 billion euros per year, around five to six billion higher than the tariff income that the transport companies recently recorded. This money should be used for a specific purpose to improve the operation of public transport and expand the range of services. The co-financing of local transport, which has so far been raised from taxpayers' money, will continue…”Article by Joachim Wille from September 24th, 2025 in the FR online above
  • Financing public transport sustainably and using it without paying a ticket
    Presentation for the press conference on September 23, 2025 from Dialog-Gesundheit-Klima e.V. and therethe book about the concept : Just go along for the ride. Financing buses and trains sustainably and using them without paying tickets
  • Expensive Germany ticket: outrageous and bad
    “…It quickly became clear that this couldn't go on forever. Even at the introductory price, the Deutschlandticket was just above the share of citizens' money intended for mobility. The Deutschlandticket broke the promise of mobility for everyone back then. With the new price of 63 euros, it is still cheaper than the old transport association subscriptions, but no more. In addition, there are more and more restrictions on rail traffic because the network and material are increasingly dilapidated. Punctuality is becoming more and more a matter of luck, which makes the price increase simply outrageous.What's really bad is that the ticket contributes less to the mobility transition with every price increase. The past increases have already reduced the number of subscribers. That will happen again this round. No advertising campaign announced by some transport ministers will help…”Comment by Sebastian Weiermann from September 19, 2025 in ND online 
  • “«The introduction of free public transport for all citizens would cost the state between 12 and 15 billion euros per year. The subsidy for the #Deutschlandticket is only around 10% of this, €1.5 billion.  The priorities couldn't be clearer.”Post by Wolfgang Leiendecker from September 20, 2025 on bsky 
• “This is the tombstone for the Deutschlandticket”: Financing for the former 49-euro ticket is only regulated for the current year. There is a risk of another price jump afterwards
  "In view of the federal government's latest plans to continue the Deutschlandticket, Bavaria's municipalities openly doubt whether there will be sustainable financing. "The federal government's planned law to continue the Deutschlandticket is in fact a second-class funeral. The funds provided are far from sufficient to compensate for the additional costs for the transport companies," emphasized Association President Thomas Karmasin (CSU). The districts would not be able to shoulder any additional deficit. “We are not the federal government’s default guarantor.” “If the federal government is not willing to permanently finance the Germany ticket that it has politically appointed, it should be abolished,” said the chairman of the Committee for Economic Affairs and Transport at the Bavarian District Assembly, Franz Löffler (CSU). (…) A federal government bill on the Germany ticket stipulates that the federal government will also provide 1.5 billion euros to finance the ticket next year. The regionalization law should be changed for this purpose. The crux of the matter, however, is how possible additional costs for transport companies should be offset - beyond the three billion euros that the federal and state governments are providing. Both the federal government and many states had pointed to a strained budget situation. (…) The financing is only stipulated in the Regionalization Act for 2025. The federal and state governments are negotiating the financing of the additional costs. If there is no agreement, there is a risk of another price increase…” Report from August 1, 2025 in the Süddeutsche Zeitung online 
• After the price increase at the turn of the year, the Deutschlandticket lost a million users, but instead of a decrease, the next price increase is looming
  • Germany ticket even more expensive? CDU transport minister presents controversial plan
    “Despite the significant increase in the price of the popular Germany ticket in January, financing concerns continue. The new transport minister is now openly pointing to future price jumps.
    Berlin – Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) is considering linking the price of the Germany ticket to the inflation rate. “We need a functioning mechanism so that we don’t have to renegotiate every year,” Schnieder told the newspapers of the Funke media group on Friday (July 4th). “One model that we are discussing with the countries is linking the ticket price to the inflation rate.” North Rhine-Westphalia's Transport Minister Oliver Krischer (Greens) did not consider such a regulation to be sufficient. (…) Left parliamentary group deputy Luigi Pantisano criticized Schnieder's statements. “With a more expensive ticket for Germany, Transport Minister Schnieder would put a massive burden on middle society,” explained the parliamentary group’s transport policy spokesman for rail and public transport.”Article by Leon Fasse from July 5th, 2025 in the FR online 
  • After a price increase: Deutschlandticket loses a million users
    "...According to a study, fewer people are using the Deutschlandticket. After the price increase at the turn of the year, the number of users fell by more than a million. This is reported by the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", citing market research by the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) and Deutsche Bahn that has not yet been published. At the turn of the year, the price of the ticket rose from 49 to 58 euros. According to the study, the number of users fell to 13.4 million in January and 14.5 in December Millions. (...) "If you want to make the Deutschlandticket a transport policy success, you have to anchor it permanently - both in financing, in the design and also with a Germany-wide application," said the VDV managing director for public transport, Alexander Möller, to the "FAZ". The Union and the SPD had decided that the Deutschlandticket should only be increased "beyond 2025". User financing increased gradually and in a socially acceptable manner," says the coalition agreement. In the years 2023 to 2025, the states and the federal government each paid 1.5 billion euros for the D-Ticket to compensate for loss of income for the transport companies. Report from July 2, 2025 in Spiegel online 
  • Fewer D tickets sold: Green party leader wants to go back to the 49 euro ticket
    "... In view of the declining number of users for the Deutschlandticket, the leader of the Green Party, Katharina Dröge, is calling for the ticket price to be reduced again. "The Deutschlandticket should be a 49-euro ticket again. And it should remain permanent," Dröge told the editorial network Germany (RND) on Thursday. The ticket has become too expensive, especially for many young people. “The ticket was a great success: it made buses and trains affordable for trainees, students and people with low incomes.”…” Article by Andrea Barthélémy from July 3, 2025 in RND 
• After the federal-state meeting: Financing of the Deutschlandticket remains unclear - the 9-euro ticket was already 9 euros too expensive
  • After federal-state meeting: Financing of Deutschlandticket remains unclear 
    “It is certain that the Deutschlandticket will continue to exist. The price should also remain stable for now. But there is a problem with the question of financing: the federal and state governments are arguing about additional costs that have to be covered. After the special conference of transport ministers on the future of the ticket, the ministers announced in a joint decision that - apart from the 1.5 billion euros per year promised so far - they did not want to contribute any further funds for the maintenance of the ticket. The sticking point is the question of how possible additional costs for transport companies should be offset. “We states, we stand by the Deutschlandticket,” said Bavaria’s Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU) after the meeting. He also announced that they would no longer be able to pay the 1.5 billion euros that the states had promised so far. Bavaria currently chairs the Conference of Transport Ministers (VMK). Bernreiter referred to further negotiations during the next regular VMK meeting in Straubing in the fall. (…)  The ministers in Berlin declared their general willingness to receive the Deutschlandticket beyond 2025. “The federal and state governments are committed to this,” said Saarland Transport Minister Petra Berg (SPD). The new Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU), Berg continued, “said that he would continue to stick with him.”
    The federal government has decided not to increase the price of tickets until 2029, the AFP news agency quotes the Saarlander as saying. “For us states, this means that the federal government also has to bear the additional costs.”…”Report from June 27th, 2025 in tagesschau.de , see also:
  • What does it cost instead of what is it worth to us? How to get out of wrong thinking about mobility!?
    “What would be possible if a Federal Transport Minister said that about cars? Would this honesty scare us?  Inspire?  But don't worry, he says it about the Germany ticket.  A few numbers from me... The true cost of driving is significantly higher than expected…”Post from June 27, 2025 by and with Katja Diehl 
  • “The Germany ticket is already too expensive. It must not become even more expensive, but on the contrary must become cheaper. By the way, the €9 ticket was also 9 euros too expensive. What is needed is the zero tariff. Because only that is social and ecological. And that is exactly what would be a clear sign of the transport transition in order to make the right to mobility possible again for everyone.” (Tobi Rosswog: VW Wolfsburg and “VerkehrsWendestadt”)
• Petition: Mobility for all – save the Germany ticket
  "The Deutschlandticket is in danger: Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) is arguing with the states about who should bear the costs in the future. Millions of people depend on the ticket to get to work or go on vacation. Sign our appeal now. More than 13.5 million German citizens travel with the Deutschlandticket - inexpensive and climate-friendly. Continue this success story and ensure that even more people can benefit from it: - Agree on permanent financing, so that the ticket does not become more expensive in the next few years - Make sure that as many people as possible can afford climate-friendly mobility and introduce a nationwide youth, trainee and social ticket for a maximum of 29 euros. Children up to the age of 14 should be able to travel for free on local and regional transport - Use the new scope of the special fund for infrastructure and climate protection to invest massively in the expansion and accessibility of buses and trains Public transport everywhere is a real alternative to the car…” campact petition from June 2025 
• Clear majority for continuation and expansion of the Deutschlandticket – introduction of a nationwide uniform “Deutschlandticket Sozial” for 25 euros per month is required
  • Survey on the Deutschlandticket: Clear majority for continuation and expansion
    “The commitment to the Deutschlandticket by the emerging coalition between the Union and the SPD is an important signal for affordable and climate-friendly mobility. A current representative survey commissioned by the Alliance for Socially Acceptable Mobility Transition among users of the Deutschlandticket underlines its high relevance. With a view to the upcoming transport ministers' conference, the alliance emphasizes: "Now the states are obliged to agree with the federal government on long-term financing of the ticket without an expiry date, to introduce a nationwide social ticket and to work together to promote the expansion and improvement of public transport services. The current survey shows how important the ticket in combination with suitable offers is for access to mobility."The survey among the approximately 13.5 million subscribers of the Deutschlandticket came to the conclusion that 89.3 percent consider it important to continue using the ticket in the long term. Without the Deutschlandticket, individual mobility costs would increase for more than two thirds of the people surveyed (69.6 percent) - and this at a time when many people urgently need financial relief. The Deutschlandticket is also relevant for climate protection…”DGB report from April 1, 2025 with the survey results and more background information
  • [Study] Deutschlandticket Sozial: Mobility as a residence lottery – The Paritätische therefore calls for the introduction of a nationwide uniform “Deutschlandticket Sozial” for 25 euros per month
    "... The 9 euro ticket in the summer of 2022 made it clear how great the need for affordable mobility is. It meant considerable relief, especially for people with low incomes. However, with the introduction of the Germany ticket for initially 49 and now 58 euros per month, many people are facing enormous financial hurdles. People with low incomes and those affected by poverty often cannot afford the ticket. The goal of a "Germany ticket for everyone" remains unfulfilled. The Social Ticket Atlas shows a tariff patchwork with serious gaps: The availability of discounted local transport tickets in Germany is extremely inconsistent and is rather the exception anyway. While Hamburg, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia as well as 28 municipalities offer social tariffs for the Deutschlandticket, such offers are completely missing in large parts of the country. There are also significant differences in prices: in Würzburg the discounted Germany ticket only costs 15 euros, while in Magdeburg it costs 53 euros. There are also significant differences depending on the region when it comes to regionally valid social tickets, both in terms of access rights and in price. Particularly problematic: In 243 of 497 districts and municipalities there are no social tariffs at all. There is also an urban-rural divide: while three out of four urban municipalities offer a social ticket, only one out of three rural municipalities does. (…) “The patchwork of social tickets exacerbates social inequalities,” warns Katja Kipping, managing director of the Joint Association and head of the social and European policy department.“We need a uniform social ticket that ends this undignified and unfair residential lottery.” What is necessary is the introduction of a nationwide valid “Deutschlandticket Sozial” for 25 euros per month. This should apply to all recipients of social benefits, i.e. those receiving citizen's benefit, housing benefit, child allowance, social assistance, basic security in old age and in cases of reduced earning capacity, as well as benefits under the Asylum Seekers Act. Financing a Deutschlandticket Sozial would be easily possible through reallocations within the transport budget: in 2020 alone, 25 billion euros flowed into climate-damaging subsidies in the transport sector. A nationwide social ticket would require less than 1.5 percent of this amount. The European climate and social fund for heat and transport could also be used for transitional financing…” Press release from April 3, 2025 from the Joint Association to the 36-pageSocial ticket atlas 
• Urgent appeal from associations and organizations: secure a Germany ticket, finance the necessary public transport expansion!
  “On the occasion of the upcoming vote in the Bundestag, numerous associations and organizations are calling on the CDU and CSU not to stand in the way of a socially just design of public transport. Since May 2023, the Deutschlandticket has enabled nationwide use of local transport, simplifies the fare system and promotes climate protection. It is very popular with 13 million subscribers. But its continued existence is at risk: the price is expected to rise as early as January, and financing is completely unclear from the end of 2025. This creates uncertainty for passengers and transport companies. We call on the CDU and CSU to create planning security and to actively shape the mobility transition:
  – Secure the Deutschlandticket in the long term: The ongoing discussions about price and financing endanger the success of the Deutschlandticket. Therefore, next week, the CDU and CSU should, as announced, agree to the transfer of remaining funds to subsequent years and also allow the ticket to be extended for a longer period of time.
  – Introduction of a nationwide uniform social ticket: Mobility is a central prerequisite for social participation. Access to work, education and social life must not be limited by ticket prices. The current patchwork of regional social tickets creates injustices and gaps. This situation must be remedied with a nationwide, uniform social ticket for a maximum of 29 euros so that all people have affordable access to mobility regardless of where they live.
  – Adequate financing for a rapid expansion of public transport: In order to bring the quality and offering of local public transport in line with increasing demand and climate protection goals, a rapid expansion of public transport is necessary. The federal, state and local governments must participate fairly in this. The federal government is particularly challenged here: Significantly more investment in additional transport offerings, personnel and vehicles is essential to make local public transport fit for the future…”Press release from December 13, 2024 from Attac Germany from BUND, Attac Germany, Greenpeace Germany, Paritätischer Gesamtverband, VCD, ver.di
• Deutschlandticket: Financing secured for 2025. After a heated financial dispute, the Union gave in and agreed to the transfer of funds"In view of the millions of eligible voters who are currently using the Deutschlandticket and would have to dig significantly deeper into their pockets without this offer, the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag no longer wants to overturn it. (...) According to a report by the ARD-tagesschau, Lange explained his parliamentary group's relent as follows: "The situation is very simple: the federal government's remaining funds from 2023 for local public transport are already with the states. They should also keep and use these. This means that the Deutschlandticket is in the year Secured in 2025.” However, the necessary decisions would only be made after the Chancellor's vote of confidence. The basis for the transfer of funds is a change to the regionalization law, which was briefly put on hold due to the traffic light being switched off. The price of the nationwide monthly ticket for subways, trams, buses and trains for local and regional public transport is currently 49 euros and is expected to rise to 58 euros in January. (…) A new federal government must “clearly commit to the Germany ticket and, together with the states, initiate long-term and secure financing as quickly as possible,” Gregor Kolbe, a consultant at the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations, told the newspapers of the Funke media group. What will happen to the offer in the year after next, once the new government is in office, remains to be seen.” Post by Claudia Wangerin from November 15, 2024 on Telepolis 
• The price increase for the Germany ticket could almost halve the climate benefits of the ticket.
  "The price increase for the Deutschlandticket could almost halve the climate benefits. This is the result of a new scientific evaluation by scientists from the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC Berlin) as part of the Ariadne project. According to the scientists, the Deutschlandticket reduced the transport sector's CO₂ emissions in the first year of its introduction (May 2023 to April 2024) by "around 6.7 million tons" - which corresponds to almost five percent of the total CO₂ emissions from the transport sector. The number of train journeys over 30 kilometers has “increased significantly” by 30 percent. The use of cars has decreased significantly - with a total of 7.6 percent fewer kilometers driven. However, due to the recently decided price increase by nine euros to 58 euros from 2025, many citizens will switch back to cars, according to the forecast. According to Ariadne predictions:
  – Train journeys will fall again by around 14 percent.
  – The number of kilometers driven in car traffic will increase by around 3.5 percent.
  – The reduction in emissions per year will fall to 3.6 million tons of CO₂.
  The scientists evaluated mobility data and created a model Germany for their study in which the Deutschlandticket was not introduced. This methodology makes it possible to actually examine causal relationships and to avoid factors that could influence the results in a before-and-after comparison.” Report from October 7, 2024 from and at TableMedia – all details aboutMCC study can be found when evaluating the Germany ticket
• Another price increase for the “Deutschlandticket”: Tombstone for the transport turnaround and not without a social ticket – not even without protests?
  • Germany ticket more expensive from next year – gravestone for transport turnaround?
    "The passenger association PRO BAHN considers the planned increase in the price of the Germany ticket from 49 to 58 euros (plus 18 percent) to be unacceptable. The fact that the states are investing the additional income they hope for in improving services and infrastructure is unbelievable. On the other hand, the new customers who were acquired through the Germany ticket in particular will be bitterly disappointed. Especially in the many regions where trains and buses are poorly issued due to a lack of offers or unreliability, PRO BAHN expects a decline Passenger numbers, elsewhere rather stagnation instead of the desired doubling. The transport ministers of the federal states agreed on the increase today after a long dispute...” Report from September 23, 2024 from the Pro Bahn passenger association 
  • Price increase for 49 euro ticket is a mistake - VCD sees traffic turnaround threatened
    "... Today is not a good day for the transport transition: The price for the 49-euro ticket is expected to rise from January, and financing from 2026 remains open. The number of subscriptions, which recently reached a record level of 13 million, will fall, as studies show. One of the most important projects for the transport transition is in danger of failing. The VCD misses the willingness of the federal and state governments to keep the price of the 49-euro ticket stable and to expand it. Instead of increasing the price, the states should youth and Align social tickets with the 49 euro ticket and thus generate more subscriptions. Hamburg is showing the way. The federal government should increase its share of financing and reduce environmentally harmful subsidies to compensate. The traffic light coalition has promised to double the number of rail passengers by 2030 - nothing will happen if it continues to sabotage its own successful projects. VCD press release from September 23, 2024 
  • Federal government on the Deutschlandticket: If the price increases, the social ticket must come
    "If the price for the Deutschlandticket is increased to 58 euros, there must be a Germany-wide and uniform social ticket for a maximum of 29 euros. Even the 49 euros were often too expensive for people with low incomes, trainees, schoolchildren and students. In addition, there needs to be a clear commitment from the federal and state governments to establish the Deutschlandticket as a permanent offer beyond the current legislative period. This must happen soon. And there is something else in Transport Minister Volker's homework book Wissing (FDP): the expansion and modernization pact, which must be linked to massive investments in buses and trains for a reliable, comprehensive and barrier-free mobility offer for everyone...” BUND press release from September 23, 2024 with 7-pagesBUND background paper on the Germany ticket (as of 04/2023)
  • “We have billions for subsidizing diesel, billions for the commuter allowance so that people use cars to get to work, billions for keeping company cars cheap and we raise prices for the ungrateful people who still think they still have to take the train“Post and graphics by Guido Kühn on September 24th, 2024 on bsky 
  • “Your train journey to work is a perverse luxury that you have to pay for yourself
    The highway under my Porsche is a God-given right that the public has to pay forat"Tweet from E L H O T Z O from Sep 24th 2024 and beforeon September 23rd : “In France, because of something like this, streets in every big city would burn and the entire country would be paralyzed with strikes for a week“ to report the price increase
• [BVG] Trouble with the social ticket: proof of poverty, please! A 7 euro solution with the social administration was kept secret by both sides
  “An app should make driving with a social ticket easier. But now it is failing because of data protection. There is no solution in sight.
  It's been causing trouble for almost a year - and there's still no solution in sight for the social ticket. The only thing the coalition apparently agrees on is that the planned app won't work. It should make it easy for those receiving social benefits to travel with the discounted 9 euro monthly ticket. “But that is impossible under data protection law, say federal and state data protection officers in unison,” explains SPD social politician Lars Düsterhöft. The current interim solution could remain permanent: social ticket users must also show a benefit notification from their authority during BVG checks. The only alternative would be to return to the old Berlin Pass. (…) The Berlin Pass was discontinued at the beginning of 2023 in order to relieve the burden on the citizens' offices and digitize the administration. Instead, social benefit recipients should automatically receive proof of eligibility to apply for a VBB customer card S. The social ticket is only valid with this card to prevent fraud. (…) However, many offices were unable to keep up with sending this proof of authorization; those affected sometimes waited months for it. Others failed because it was initially only possible to apply for the S customer card from the BVG digitally. So it happened that many people were forced to drive while evading. Things didn't get any better when the interim solution that is still in effect today was introduced in October 2023, according to which proof that you are receiving benefits from a social welfare authority is sufficient. In total, at least 10,000 people received an “increased transport fee” (EBE) of 60 euros during checks by the end of the year.(…) As it turns out, there was probably no real solution for the many people who received EBEs through no fault of their own. In the winter, politicians and initiatives called for the 60 euros to be waived retroactively for those affected. Now the taz learned from the “9 Euro Ticket Movement” based in Schillerkiez that a person had received two legal titles - she had received three EBE because she lacked proof of the social ticket, but then did not pay for them. “In the worst case scenario, there is a risk of a substitute prison sentence,” says the initiative. (…) The taz learned from the social administration that an agreement had been reached with the BVG at the time that people who were demonstrably unable to pay the 60 euros would only have to pay an “administrative fee” of 7 euros - but this was not communicated to the outside world so that “thousands would not arrive”. The BVG says that EBE procedures that have already been initiated “to be stopped across the board and without checking” are not possible under collective bargaining law.” Article by Susanne Memarnia from August 28, 2024 in the taz online 
• Germany semester ticket: Decouple from the price of the Germany ticket, set an upper limit
  "... The free association of student organizations (fzs) and the German Student Union (DSW) are calling on the federal and state governments to introduce a new calculation basis and a multi-year price cap for the Germany semester ticket for students. Instead of the Germany semester ticket being 60% of the price of the Germany ticket, a permanently valid, socially acceptable ticket price must be set that is based on the real living conditions of students, according to the two organizations. The background is that Mobility could become more expensive for students from next year. The Conference of Transport Ministers considers a price increase for the Germany ticket to be necessary in 2025. After the summer holidays in 2024, the higher ticket price would also increase the price for the discounted Germany semester ticket, which is linked to the issue price of the Germany ticket and whose price is currently 29.40 euros per month for students. fzs e.V.: "The student achievement of the semester ticket will be put to a tough test in 2025: an increase in the ticket price increasingly delegitimizes the solidarity model in the student bodies. For many, the introduction of the nationwide semester ticket (at a price of 29.40 euros/month) was already an additional financial burden. It must not be the case that ticket prices for sustainable mobility fall victim to wrong priorities in transport policy. This would make studying even more dependent on socio-economic factors made dependent.Instead of an uncertain price factor, we demand an affordable solidarity ticket!” Matthias Anbuhl, DSW chairman, explains: "It's about ensuring student mobility in the long term, and this includes, first and foremost, a permanently socially acceptable, student-friendly price for students' Germany semester ticket. (...) fzs and DSW also agree on the demand for the voluntary upgrade solution, with which students can buy the nationwide Germany semester ticket in addition to a regional semester ticket for an additional charge, also via the According to the current status, this option will end after the coming winter semester.” The joint demands of fzs and DSW published by Sascha Wellmann on August 21, 2024 
• Associations' appeal for the 2025 budget: Affordable Germany ticket for everyone instead of luxury company cars for a few 
  “Instead of continuing to promote combustion engines and particularly expensive and heavy electric cars as company cars, a broad alliance of associations is calling on the federal government to orient the 2025 budget and the growth initiative towards social justice and climate protection. On Wednesday, the federal cabinet wants to deal with the 2025 budget and the growth initiative, which contains a passage to increase support for company cars. The plans for the 2025 budget are intended to expand tax advantages for company cars as part of the growth initiative. This would mean the federal government would lose hundreds of millions of euros in tax revenue. The money primarily benefits top earners. The associations criticize that no additional money is planned for the Germany ticket, from which everyone can benefit.  Although the planned expansion only applies to electric vehicles, the billion-dollar tax advantages for combustion cars still exist. At the same time, this rewards a German automobile industry that has long delayed the drive change for society at large. According to the associations, there are much better and fairer solutions to, on the one hand, promote cheap and climate-friendly electric models for the broad spectrum of society and, at the same time, to create budgetary leeway that can ensure price stability for the Deutschlandticket and expand public transport…”Joint press release from July 16, 2024 at VCD , see also:
  • This is how the 49 euro ticket becomes the ticket of the future! Bus & train for everyone, everywhere!
    “After just one year, the future of the 49 euro ticket is in jeopardy. At the state level, the Hessian CDU is calling for it to be abolished and the FDP at the federal level is reportedly planning to cut one billion euros from the budget for rail infrastructure. This should flow into the street instead. Federal Finance Minister Lindner is endangering the expansion of rail with his austerity plans and is playing him off against the 49-euro ticket. That’s why we demand “Bus and train for everyone, everywhere!” with 49 euro price stability, reduced youth and social ticket for 29 euros and relief for families by allowing children up to 14 years of age to travel free of charge. This is the only way to make climate-friendly mobility affordable and fair for everyone…”  Petition to the VCD 
• Broad alliance demands: Affordable mobility for young and old! Price stability for the 49 euro ticket and more federal funding for local and regional transport
  “Price stability for the Germany ticket plus additional social ticket – The “Public transport needs future” alliance, in which Attac is also a member, joins the demands of the “Bus & Train for All” campaign by the ecological transport club VCD and the Arbeiterwohlfahrt AWO. In addition, stable public transport requires good working conditions and secure financing through the expansion and modernization pact of the federal, state and local governments. Recurring negotiations between the federal and state governments about a possible price increase for the Deutschlandticket cause uncertainty. A price increase would be a fatal step backwards: According to figures from the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), 20 million people have already had a Germany ticket. The fact that only eleven million people are currently subscribed shows that the potential is not being exhausted. The federal and state governments must permanently secure the price for the 49 euro ticket. In addition, people with low incomes need discounted youth, training and social tickets for a maximum of 29 euros in order to be able to participate in social life. In order to ease the burden on families, children up to the age of 14 should be able to use local and regional transport free of charge. In addition to the price, the offer is crucial: the 49 euro ticket is only purchased where there are sufficient buses and trains. This is all too often not the case, especially in rural areas. Local and regional public transport in the city and even more so in the countryside must be expanded - barrier-free. To achieve this, the federal and state governments must take greater responsibility for financing the entire public transport system. Today, the existence of municipal public transport is threatened because municipalities are left alone to finance it.If the expansion and modernization pact from the federal and state governments remains an empty promise, the rising costs for maintenance, operation and attractive working conditions in public transport will lead to a dismantling rather than an expansion. The financing of local rail passenger transport (SPNV) must also be improved so that there is no threat of a reduction in services and more trains can run…” attac press release from June 20, 2024 
• Common demand: towards free public transport!
  “In alliance with ten other youth associations, we are calling for a 180-degree turnaround in transport policy. Towards a policy that is based on real needs and improves people's lives. Basic needs, working conditions and climate goals must not be played off against each other. "The report about a discounted Germany ticket for students seems like a step in the right direction, but it is only a brief ray of hope. Firstly, the proposed price is too high to be socially acceptable and secondly, it does not initiate any effective reforms. It would be more important to use the existing regionalization funds for financing, to improve working conditions in public transport and to create a real social ticket that also includes students, trainees and all young people." said Paul Marx, Federal Student Committee in the GEW.”fzs report from December 3, 2023 
• Really fair – solidarity through the crisis! A 49-euro ticket is not enough for a traffic turnaround
  “Massive investments in the expansion and personnel of public transport, in electromobility and mobility money instead of a commuter allowance must complement the “Deutschlandticket”.
  The energy price crisis has increased the pressure to finally implement a transport transition that is socially and ecologically fair. An important component is well-developed and affordable public transport. This not only relieves our wallets of inflation, but is also good for the environment…”DGB report from November 27th, 2023 
• Social climate protection light: grace period for 49 euro ticket? And why a 29 euro ticket would be possible without a higher subsidy
  “The offer could continue for the time being. Long-term financing is unclear. Many customers' price pain thresholds are known from surveys. A comment.
  The 49 euro ticket could continue. For now. Probably. But long-term financing remains unclear. As the Hessenschau reports from the meeting between the heads of government of the federal states and Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday, the states have agreed that they want to continue the project. If the federal government participates, funds not used this year should be reallocated to next year. Whether that will be enough and what will happen afterwards remains uncertain. Planning security for the transport companies, which had repeatedly demanded this from those responsible, is still a long time coming. The current over ten million buyers are also still left in the dark as to whether the nationwide monthly ticket valid for public transport and regional trains will continue to be offered for 49 euros. Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing and Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (both FDP) had steadfastly refused to allocate more from the federal budget. (…)
  Why a 29 euro ticket would be possible without a higher subsidy
  So it could be that the nationwide ticket will only be continued in a more expensive form, as some state politicians recently suggested. Wissing also made it clear during the introduction that the 49 euros were only an entry-level price. As reported, the minister had already calculated in the spring that the monthly ticket could also be offered for 29 euros without the need for subsidies being higher. The reason: The lower price would allow significantly more people to take advantage of it. Accordingly, it is now feared that the attractiveness of the ticket would be further reduced by a price increase. So far, around million people have subscribed to the ticket, the only form in which it is available. However, a recent survey showed that 49 euros is the pain threshold for 37 percent of those surveyed. Another 23 percent would drop out beyond 59 euros per month. There is an urgent need to increase the attractiveness of public transport: passenger numbers are still just below pre-pandemic levels, as NDR reports. How much money is involved? The Association of Transport Companies estimates the subsidy requirement for 2024 at four billion euros. So ultimately it's only about a billion more than the three billion euros that were already agreed. Or actually only a maximum of 500 million, because the states have already offered to cover half of the additional costs in 2024. And if the funds not used this year are carried over to next year, then the federal government might even have a total of 200 million euros.That wouldn't be a large sum for the federal budget if you think of the 100 billion special fund for war preparations, or the nine billion euros that - not entirely legally - helped Lufthansa out of trouble in 2021 and filled the pockets of those billionaires who had stocked up on the company's crashed shares in time. There is money available for gifts to the FDP clientele…”Contribution by Wolfgang Pomrehn from November 7, 2023 in Telepolis 
• Second life for a 9 euro ticket: The 9 euro fund has been paying fines for fare evaders for a year 
  "They didn't want to accept that the 9-euro ticket was history again after three months: the 9-euro fund initiative is one year old. "The 9-euro ticket was a social benefit. It promoted social participation and showed that a climate-friendly mobility transition is possible," says Leo Maurer, spokesman for the initiative that emerged in Berlin. He founded the project with seven other activists in August 2022. "It was clear to us: we want and need this ticket and we knew that we have a large part of the population on our side." The 9-euro fund is a donation pot into which members pay nine euros a month. From now on, they no longer have to fear ticket inspections on buses, subways and trams. If they are checked, the fund acts like an insurance that covers the "increased transport fees", i.e. the 60 euros fine for fare evasion. In the last twelve months, around 208,000 euros were paid The initiative was able to cover more than 2,500 times the increased transport fee (…) Most requests for payment are forwarded to the fund in rural areas, probably because local public transport often has large gaps and people tend to use the regional train, for which the 9-euro fund does not cover fines “We would use up our budget in a short time,” explains Maurer. Since the satirical party “The Party” took over the patronage, the fund has been better protected against legal attacks.The accusation that the initiators of the campaign wanted to encourage people to fare evade has also largely fallen silent. »We have never asked people to fare evade, because driving without a ticket is a criminal offense in Germany. We also point this out explicitly. Rather, we demand that politicians reintroduce the 9 euro ticket and that driving without a ticket is decriminalized. We want to build up the necessary pressure to do this.«…“ Article by Melanie Schweinfurth from August 31, 2023 in New Germany online 
• The “Germany Ticket”: Too expensive for many at the start and too cheap for transport companies – climate protection and social participation look different 
  • The 49 euro ticket doesn't change anything - it's too expensive - science recommends 29 euros as the price 
    “Won back a few pre-Corona subscribers, but a huge flop when it comes to mobility transition: And with the austerity party FDP, things are unlikely to get any better with the 49-euro ticket (…) The official name “Deutschlandticket” is only used by those who don’t mind that the ticket will soon become much more expensive. The government also chose them to remain flexible on price. With Volker Wissing, the FDP occupies the Federal Ministry of Transport - and someone will probably counter-finance their tax relief plans for the rich. We should all start by saying “49 euro ticket” and set a rhetorical limit. But actually 49 euros is far too expensive. (…)The traffic researcher Andreas Knie has...Deutschlandfunk HowTopics of the day The Republic has just revealed the bitter state of knowledge regarding the 49-euro ticket: That's why hardly anyone got out of the car and got on the train, bus or tram; The vast majority of buyers already had a subscription, and it's certainly good that they now pay less and can travel all over Germany; but fewer people use local public transport today than before the Corona measures began; Anyone who canceled a subscription after 2019 has now often returned thanks to the 49 euro ticketthe reported increase in passenger numbers of the transport companies. Anyway.
    Science recommends 29 euros as the price
    Do you remember how many nine-euro tickets were sold in those three tight but exciting months of 2022?62 million . Opposite roundeleven million now. The 49 euro ticket is a flop, as practical as it feels to drive yourself. It's just too expensive. According to Knie, science knows the magic mark: 29 euros – plus massive investments in the infrastructure and “on-demand” service to the nearest train station in rural areas…”Article by Sebastian Puschner from August 16, 2023 online on Friday 
  • The Deutschlandticket falls short of its potential
    “The federal and state governments must invest immediately and long-term in local public transport to ensure a high-quality service. “The necessary funds for sustainable public transport and a comprehensive social ticket are a prerequisite for climate protection and social participation,” explains the Alliance for Socially Compatible Mobility Transition. The Germany ticket could only be the beginning.
    In its current form, the Deutschlandticket does not meet the requirement of public transport that is accessible to everyone. With a standard price of 49 euros, the ticket is too expensive, especially for families, children and young people as well as people with little or no income. Although some federal states have already promised to introduce a nationwide social ticket, there is a lack of a nationwide, uniform regulation. According to the alliance, it is also important to have a travel arrangement similar to long-distance transport for children up to 14 years old, as well as cheap school and trainee tickets that are valid throughout Germany. "Affordable and sustainable mobility is part of public services. This must not end at city, district or state borders," said the alliance members. This also means that the ticket can be purchased through all sales channels and without a credit check…”ver.di press release from April 28, 2023 
  • Necessary changes to the €49 ticket
    “The regulations of the €49 ticket are too restrictive and exclude a number of people. The following points in particular should be taken into account:
    • Anyone who wants to buy the ticket must have internet access and be familiar with the technology.
    • If you want to take out a subscription for the online ticket, you need a bank account. Homeless people in particular often do not have this.
    • If the Schufa entry is negative, people with an account can also be excluded from taking out a subscription.
    • Since the ticket is intended to be personal, the user must carry an identification document with them. Homeless/homeless people in particular often do not have any identification documents or at least do not always carry them with them.
    • Improvements need to be made here at short notice so that people without digital access and without an account are not excluded from the €49 ticket.
    • The VDK also criticizes the lack of access for older and poor people to the €49 ticket (https://t1p.de/9w2hi), just as the consumer advice center criticizes this practice: https://t1p.de/7uims
    • In addition, the price of the ticket is too high for poor people, there must be a social discount. The amount can be debated, but in no case more than 29 EUR per month.” From theThomé Newsletter 14/2023 from April 30, 2023 
  • Deutschlandticket: Is 49 euros just the entry point?
    “So now it's here, the 49 euro ticket. It is officially called the “Deutschlandticket” and Ingo Wortmann, the President of the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), has already announced that it could not stay at 49 euros. The federal government has always spoken of the entry price. That's why official communication always talks about the “Deutschlandticket”. Apparently the ulterior motive is that people shouldn't even get used to the price.After all, the attractiveness of local public transport (ÖPNV) is important to Wortmann, which is why he wants the federal and state governments, which will ultimately negotiate the price, to keep the price increase as low as possible. “Today we are putting an end to complicated and tiring,” said Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) about the introduction of the ticket. And he is right in that the owners of a 49 euro ticket no longer have to worry about tariff zones and no longer have to decipher the logic of the respective ticket machines in foreign cities. However, for no apparent reason, the new ticket is only available by subscription and only digitally. So if you don't have a constant need, you have to constantly cancel and reorder, which is at least possible every month. In addition, the ticket is not available at the machine, but must be ordered online…”Contribution by Wolfgang Pomrehn from May 2nd, 2023 in Telepolis 
  • Deutschlandticket: It doesn’t matter, the main thing is digital