Politicians across Germany’s federal and state levels are advocating for the continued availability of the Deutschlandticket at an affordable price point.
Armand Zorn, parliamentary group vice for the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in the Bundestag, emphasized to newspapers of the Funke-Mediengruppe that the ticket’s success and appeal are directly linked to its price. Zorn stated the aim should be to guarantee price stability for users, with a proposal to distribute the costs of the ticket according to a fixed formula. The number of Deutschlandticket users recently declined by approximately one million following a price increase from €49 to €58 at the beginning of the year.
Federal Minister for Transport, Patrick Schnieder (CDU), previously indicated to the Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers that linking the price to the inflation rate could be a viable solution for financing the ticket. Schnieder cautioned that both the federal government and state governments are hesitant to exceed the current subsidy of €1.5 billion each allocated to transport companies. He expressed confidence that the Deutschlandticket could remain attractive even at a slightly higher price.
The Hesse Minister for Transport, Kaweh Mansoori (SPD), also voiced strong support for the continued offering. Mansoori described the Deutschlandticket as “a complete success” highlighting its ability to increase mobility for millions. He stressed that the initiative should not be a temporary measure, requiring a long-term and reliable financing plan to ensure its persistence. Hesse remains committed to contributing its share to sustain the important public transport offering.