Following a price increase at the start of the year, the number of users of the Deutschlandticket has declined by over one million. This is according to a market research report by the Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen (VDV) and Deutsche Bahn, as reported by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
The 49-euro ticket, introduced in May 2023, had previously seen a steady increase in users, reaching 14.5 million in December 2024. However, the price hike to 58 euros in January resulted in a drop to 13.4 million users.
While monthly fluctuations are not uncommon for the nationwide public transport pass, the quarterly figures suggest a potential turning point. After 14.2 million users in the last quarter of 2024, the number fell to 13.5 million in the first quarter of 2025.
More than half of the decline, approximately 430,000 tickets, is attributed to the price increase. However, if sales figures confirm this, the decrease would still be better than initially anticipated, with forecasts predicting a drop of up to 9 percent of users, compared to the current approximately 6 percent.
Notably, the job ticket segment experienced a significant decrease, falling by around 16 percent to 2.2 million users. The industry had hoped for a substantial boost from companies subsidizing travel costs for their employees. Furthermore, uptake among young people aged 14 to 29 saw a sharp decline of over 36 percent.
In response to this subdued demand, the industry is calling for an end to abrupt price increases and advocating for “moderate, comprehensible price adjustments” potentially linked to an index. Securing long-term funding from federal and state governments is also deemed essential, as current arrangements are only in place until the end of the year due to ongoing budget negotiations.
Alexander Möller, VDV Managing Director for Public Transport, emphasized the need for long-term stability and a comprehensive approach to make the Deutschlandticket a success. “If the Deutschlandticket is to become a political success, it must now be permanently anchored – in its financing, design and with a nationwide promotion” he stated.