2024-09-23 17:03:02
The end of the 49-euro ticket: The Deutschlandticket is getting more expensive. The price increase was foreseeable, but the negotiations reveal a fundamental error.
The Deutschlandticket was nothing less than a revolution in local public transport. It made everyday life significantly easier for millions of customers and, in many cases, made it cheaper. However, there was a serious mistake in the conception from the very beginning that will jeopardise the success of the ticket in the long term: the unclear financing.
This was once again made very clear at the start of the week. The transport ministers of the states came together for an extraordinary meeting to discuss the future price of the Deutschlandticket. Since Monday afternoon it has been clear: the synonymous 49-euro ticket will no longer apply from January 1st, when the price will rise to 58 euros. You can read more about this here.
The background to this is that the Deutschlandticket only works with extensive state subsidies. To ensure that local public transport is affordable throughout Germany, annual subsidies of 1.5 billion euros have been budgeted. However, the shortfalls in the transport companies turned out to be higher than initially planned.
It was therefore foreseeable that the price of the Deutschlandticket would have to rise. The extent to which the nine euro increase is justified is still the subject of heated debate. A study commissioned by the federal government and the states predicts that a price increase of ten euros could cause up to 21 percent of Deutschlandticket customers to drop out. Social associations also warn that the price increase could be too high for low-income people and exclude them as a result.
The fact is: For commuters who travel through the areas of several transport associations, or people who travel a lot throughout Germany, the ticket, even at 58 euros, still represents a significant saving compared to other ticket solutions. However, those who only want to use public transport in their city can sometimes travel cheaper with an offer from the local transport companies.
But what is more serious is that even with this price increase, uncertainty remains. Because – and the transport ministers have already announced this – the price of 58 euros is only valid for one year. The next price increase is looming in 2026. How high it will be is completely uncertain. Just like the question of whether it will be continued at all. That doesn’t create trust, it scares customers away.
Instead of discussing a necessary price increase at short notice every year, the federal and state governments should finally make a clear commitment to the continued existence of the ticket. This includes the promise of funding and also the possibility for the states to convert their regionalization funds into discounts for the ticket, for example for students.
Above all, it must be clear when prices can rise in the future so that customers can plan accordingly, similar to how they previously did with annual subscriptions to local transport companies. If the Deutschlandticket is not only intended to be a reward for existing public transport users, but also to attract new customers, it needs to have clear regulations and reliability.