UPDATE: Get the latest as the price hike for the Deutschlandticket is confirmed
Transport ministers from Germany's states are meeting on Thursday for another round of discussions on the future financing of the Deutschlandticket.Â
According to the German Press Agency (DPA), a price increase of around €4-6 is on the table.Â
This would mean the pass, which currently costs users €58 per month, could cost users between €62 and €64 per month starting in 2026.Â
It comes after the price of the ticket increased by €9 at the start of 2025, from €49 per month.Â
Around 14 million people in Germany hold the travel pass, which allows unlimited travel throughout the country for a fixed monthly price. Subscribers can travel on local and regional public transport across Germany, but not on intercity and high-speed trains.
Crunch talks on Thursday
Earlier in August, the cabinet passed a draft bill to ensure that the federal government will again contribute €1.5 billion next year to help fund the Deutschlandticket. States are also expected to contribute another €1.5 billion. However, a significant gap in funding remains.Â
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Now German states plan to present their financing proposal at a meeting in Munich scheduled for Thursday.
According to DPA sources, the states are currently negotiating a proposed consumer price rise that could plug this funding gap.
State sources suggest that raising the price to €62 per month would mean the ticket would no longer be under-funded.
However, states governed by the CDU/CSU said they would prefer an increase to €64 per month.
Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder will not be attending the meeting, but the CDU politician said he hoped an agreement would be reached in the coming days.
"I am in intensive negotiations with the federal states," he told the Rheinische Post newspaper.
Concerns over possible price hike
Ahead of the the transport ministers' conference, critics are speaking out over possible price hikes.
The Social Welfare Association of Germany warned against making the travel pass even more expensive, saying the positive effect of getting people to switch from cars to public transport would be lost.Â
"The last increase already had a negative impact here, and every additional euro in price increases has negative consequences," said chairperson Michaela Engelmeier.
The largest local transport association in Germany advocated for moderate price increases.
"We need more money in the [public transport] system," said Oliver Wittke, CEO of the Rhine-Ruhr Transport Association (VRR). He suggested that the price "could be linked to the inflation rate or to an index that includes the most important cost increases for personnel, track usage and energy".
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A constant battle over funding
Since its introduction in May 2023, the financing of the Deutschlandticket has been the subject of continual and fierce debate.
The sticking point in the current negotiations is the question of how to compensate transport companies for the expected additional costs – beyond the €3 billion in funding per year from the federal and state governments.
The Deutshlandticket is cheaper than previous monthly subscriptions, which results in a loss of revenue.
With tight budgets, both the federal government and states do not want to offer up any extra cash.Â
However, the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD states that the Deutschlandticket price should remain stable for the time being. From 2029, the share of user financing is to be increased "gradually and in a socially acceptable manner", according to the agreement.
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