As discussions intensify ahead of a key Federal Council meeting, the German Association of Cities (Deutscher Städtetag) is urging the federal government and state governments to re-evaluate the future financing of the Deutschlandticket.
Christian Schuchardt, Managing Director of the Deutscher Städtetag, expressed concerns regarding the current stalemate in funding commitments. He stated that the decision to freeze federal and state subsidies at 1.5 billion euros each poses significant challenges. He suggested that allowing price increases for the ticket, starting in 2026, could help bridge the projected funding gap for the Deutschlandticket, which is estimated to reach up to 800 million euros by 2026.
Furthermore, the planned implementation of a cost index from 2027 to account for rising energy, personnel and operational costs was deemed sensible. Schuchardt emphasized that aligning federal and state subsidies with this index would further mitigate potential increases in ticket prices for users and contribute to the long-term viability of the Deutschlandticket. He noted that such dynamic funding would have a moderating effect on ticket costs until the end of 2029.
The Federal Council is scheduled to deliberate on the ongoing financing of the ticket this Friday. The current proposal involves a 5-euro price increase in 2026, bringing the monthly ticket price to 63 euros. Subsequent price adjustments are planned, tied to an index reflecting major cost components. The commitment from the federal government and states remains a combined 3 billion euros annually until 2030.