The financing of the Germany ticket for the coming year has been decided. On Friday, the Bundestag voted in favour of a corresponding amendment to the Regionalisation Act.
This stipulates that the federal and state governments will each contribute €1.5 billion to the discounted offer. In addition, the price of the monthly pass will rise from €58 to €63 in January. However, it is still unclear how prices will develop from 2027 onwards.
Three billion euros – half from the federal government and half from the states – had already been allocated to compensate for the loss of revenue incurred by transport companies between 2023 and 2025.
However, according to the companies, this sum will not be sufficient in the foreseeable future. There were months of debate about who would cover the additional costs. Finally, the federal and state governments agreed to raise ticket prices.
The law now passed by the Bundestag stipulates three billion euros per year until 2030. For the years from 2027 onwards, a cost index is to be established, which will be based, among other things, on wages and energy prices. The subscription price for the Germany ticket will then be determined annually in accordance with this index.
The Left Party, the Green Party and environmental and consumer associations are criticising the foreseeable further price increases and calling for a permanent return to the original ticket price of €49 per month.
‘The price increase mainly affects people on low incomes,’ explained the social welfare association VdK on Friday. ‘They are particularly dependent on affordable mobility options.’ A special social tariff for low-income earners is therefore needed.
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