German states anticipate approximately €3.8 billion in costs for the Deutschlandticket program in the coming year, according to a recent forecast from transport ministers, reported by the “Rheinische Post”. The projection highlights a key point of contention: the states believe that any additional costs exceeding €3 billion beginning in 2026 should be borne by the federal government.
The rationale stems from the federal government’s stated aim to stabilize the price of the Deutschlandticket. To achieve this, price increases will be capped to reflect a public transport-specific inflation rate, projected to be between two and three percent in 2026. This limitation, state officials contend, necessitates an increase in public subsidies.
Petra Berg, Minister for Transport in Saarland, emphasized the importance of establishing the ticket as a permanent, affordable standard product within the public transport system. To maintain its attractiveness, Berg stated, the Deutschlandticket price should not increase at a faster rate than other ticket options.
Currently, the program is jointly financed by the federal government and the states, each contributing €1.5 billion. As of now, no agreement has been reached regarding the allocation of potential future cost increases, leaving the financial future of the Deutschlandticket program subject to ongoing negotiations between federal and state authorities.