New price index: Environmental association against price increase of the Germany ticket

rtr/kna | The expected price increase of the Deutschlandticket has met with criticism from the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND). It is unacceptable that the federal government is freeing up 2.5 billion euros in tax money for a further fuel discount, but cannot at least keep the price of the Deutschlandticket stable, the association explained in Berlin on Wednesday.

Starting next year, an index procedure that the federal states' transport ministers agreed on in the spring will be used for the first time to determine the pricing of the flat-rate offer for Germany-wide local transport use.

A new monthly price of 66.90 euros is being discussed, reported the Rheinische Post and referred to the environment of the Deutschlandticket Coordination Council. This committee will set the new price on Wednesday. This includes the federal government, states, municipal associations and the transport industry.

Jens Hilgenberg, head of transport policy at BUND, called the Deutschlandticket a milestone for the mobility transition. "The constant discussions about the ticket and its price are tiring and create uncertainty. People need long-term planning in order to permanently change their mobility behavior," he said. In order to create mobility with more social participation, a cheaper offer is also needed for low-income earners or trainees and students. According to the BUND, this should not be more expensive than 29 euros per month.

Around 14.5 million people currently have the Deutschlandticket, which allows them to use regional and local public transport nationwide. Since the beginning of this year, the ticket has cost 63 euros per month, up from 58 euros previously. For the transport associations it is a big loss-making business. That's why the federal and state governments finance the ticket with 1.5 billion euros each per year.