Facing declining usage, the Green party’s parliamentary group leader, Katharina Dröge, has renewed calls for a reduction in the price of the Deutschlandticket. Speaking to the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” Dröge stated that the ticket should revert to a 49-euro price point and remain at that level permanently.
Dröge emphasized that the current price has become a barrier for many young people. She highlighted the initial success of the ticket in making public transport affordable for apprentices, students and those with lower incomes.
The Green politician criticized the current political direction of the Union and SPD, suggesting their policies pose a risk to the long-term viability of the Deutschlandticket. Dröge stressed the urgent need for reliable, long-term funding alongside a price decrease, asserting that public transport is a climate-friendly option accessible to all citizens.
Data from a market research study by the Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen (VDV) and Deutsche Bahn reveals that sales of the Deutschlandticket decreased to 13.4 million tickets in the first quarter of 2025, following a price increase to 58 euros in January. This represents a decline from the 14.2 million tickets sold in the fourth quarter of 2024. Notably, the 14 to 29 age group experienced a more than one-third (36 percent) drop in ticket purchases.