The German Bundestag has approved a significant legislative amendment securing the financial backbone of the Deutschlandticket program through 2030, signaling a commitment to affordable public transport but also exposing underlying political tensions and potential cost implications. The bill, passed Friday with the combined support of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), modifies the Regionalisation Act to guarantee federal subsidies for the discounted ticket scheme. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Left party voted against the proposal, while the Green Party abstained, highlighting differing perspectives on the program’s long-term viability and fiscal responsibility.
The federal government will continue to allocate €1.5 billion annually to the states to compensate for revenue shortfalls experienced by public transport operators and task carriers due to the subsidized ticket price. These funds will be channeled through state administrations to task carriers and ultimately to the transport companies themselves. A revised usage verification process is slated for introduction in 2026, intended to offer independence from the state-defined compensation mechanisms still under development.
While the original government proposal only envisioned extending the Deutschlandticket until the end of 2026, a coalition amendment successfully pushed the program’s validity to 2030, aligning with a September decision from the Transport Ministers’ Conference and a recommendation from the Federal Council.
However, the long-term extension isn’t without potential complications. The price of the Deutschlandticket is already slated to increase from the current €58 to €63 per month starting next year. Furthermore, from 2027 onwards, price adjustments will be dictated by a newly developed cost index incorporating factors like wage and energy expenses. This mechanism introduces an element of uncertainty, potentially leading to price increases that could undermine the ticket’s affordability and erode public support.
Critics, particularly from the AfD and the Left, have questioned the sustainability of the program, arguing that the continuous injection of federal funds represents an unsustainable burden on taxpayers and masks deeper structural problems within the public transport sector. The Green Party’s abstention arguably reflects a wider debate about the most effective and equitable approach to supporting public transport, with some advocating for measures that address operational efficiency and infrastructure upgrades alongside affordability.
The decision underscores the increasingly politicized nature of transportation policy in Germany, with the long-term success of the Deutschlandticket program now intrinsically linked to ongoing political negotiation and the evolving economic landscape.