The price of Germany’s nationwide public transport pass, the Deutschlandticket, could rise by €3.40 per month from 2027, bringing the monthly cost to €66.40, according to calculations reported by the Tagesspiegel newspaper.
The estimate is based on a pricing formula approved by Germany’s transport ministers. The formula includes a cost index, which takes into account factors such as personnel and energy expenses, as well as a value factor. The mechanism is designed to offset the fact that annual subsidies from the federal government and the states are capped at €1.5 billion each.
The Deutschlandticket currently costs €63 per month and allows unlimited travel on local and regional public transport services across Germany.
More than 14 million people are currently using the ticket, making it one of the country’s most popular public transport initiatives.
Ahead of a special meeting of Germany’s transport ministers scheduled for Thursday, the Ecological Transport Club Germany (VCD) called on policymakers to keep the Deutschlandticket affordable in the long term.
According to the VCD, the current price of €63 is already too expensive for many people. The organization is also advocating for the introduction of a nationwide social ticket costing no more than €29 per month.
The VCD is urging both the federal government and the states to contribute an additional €400 million each year from 2027 to support the ticket.
The group pointed to Germany’s fuel tax relief program, known as the tank rebate, which cost the federal government more than €1.6 billion in just two months. If financial support could be provided for motorists, the VCD argues, public transport users should receive similar consideration.
VCD Chairman Matthias Kurzeck warned that continued fare increases could undermine the ticket’s success.
“Every price increase makes the Deutschlandticket less attractive,” Kurzeck said. “If passengers stop using it, revenues may ultimately fail to rise as expected.”
He cautioned that higher prices risk driving passengers away from buses and trains, potentially weakening both public transport usage and overall ticket revenues.
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