According to figures released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Monday, passenger numbers in German public transportation experienced a moderate increase during the first half of 2025. Overall ridership across buses and trains rose by approximately one percent compared to the same period in 2024. Long-distance travel saw a more substantial increase, climbing four percent year-on-year.
The growth rate in local transport appears to be decelerating three years after the introduction of the Deutschlandticket. While passenger numbers surged ten percent in the first half of 2023 compared to the first half of 2022 and rose a further seven percent in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023, the most recent data indicates a more tempered rise.
Within local public transport, which accounts for 99 percent of scheduled services, ridership increased by one percent, totaling 5.7 billion passengers. Rail-based local transport saw a one percent increase, reaching 1.4 billion passengers. Last year’s figures for this sector were impacted by disruption due to industrial action. Bus services for local travel saw ridership increase by two percent, with 2.6 billion passengers utilizing this mode of transport. Tram ridership saw only a slight increase, reaching approximately two billion passengers.
Long-distance passenger numbers climbed to 76 million, representing a four percent increase compared to the first half of 2024. Rail long-distance travel specifically recorded 71 million passengers, also reflecting a four percent rise; the previous year’s figures were lowered by the impact of strikes. Approximately five million passengers utilized long-distance bus services, with no notable changes in ridership observed in this sector.