The endless dispute over the Germany-wide rail pass continues, this time at a special conference of transport ministers.
Federal and state transport ministers are meeting in Berlin to negotiate, among other things, the financing of the Deutschlandticket beyond 2025. If no agreement is reached, the pass could be scrapped in 2026.
Patrick Schnieder (CDU), the Federal Minister of Transport, did not sound certain of success when he spoke to Tagesschau on Thursday.
“Our goal is to continue the Deutschlandticket and also find a permanent mechanism for how the price will develop in the future. I can't say whether we will achieve this for next year, but that is our goal.”
The Deutschlandticket was introduced as the successor to the wildly popular €9 ticket, which ran for three months in summer 2022 as a relief measure for high energy costs.Â
Available since May 2023, the Germany-wide ticket offers unlimited travel around the country for a fixed monthly price. The offer extends to local and regional public transport, but not intercity trains. The price of the ticket increased by €9 to €58 per month in January 2025.
The Deutschlandticket is mainly financed by the federal and state governments, which are each contributing €1.5 billion. So far, additional costs have been covered by the price increase and remaining funds from 2023.
There are still no arrangements in place from the end of 2025, however, with some more rural states arguing they should not have to pay for a scheme which primarily benefits urban areas.Â
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The ongoing dispute over financing has long been a source of frustration for consumers and transport companies in particular.
“It is unacceptable that millions of people have to worry about their Deutschlandticket again and again,” said Christoph Bautz, managing director of the campaign organization Campact. “We expect the transport ministers to agree on permanent and reliable financing."
The coalition agreement between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Social Democrats (SPD), signed in April, warned of further price increases for users in the future but pledged to continue the Deutschlandticket scheme .Â
“The proportion of user funding will be increased gradually and in a socially responsible manner from 2029,” according to the agreement.Â
The coalition agreement also described plans for a “fixed formula” for funding the ticket after 2029, to ensure that customers and state and federal governments can plan ahead. Agreeing on the details of this formula is one of the main goals of the transport ministers' meeing.Â
For some politicians, the Deutschlandticket is already too expensive.
”The Deutschlandticket ticket was a promise of affordable mobility. At a price of €58, it is now too expensive. Buses and trains must be affordable. [...] We propose a price guarantee for a €49 ticket, to be announced jointly by the federal and state governments," said Katharina Dröge, leader of the Green Party parliamentary group.
In addition to promising to keep the travel pass in place, the incoming government also pledged to embark on a "fundamental rail reform" and renew the country's ailing railways with tens of billions of new investment. Â
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