Deutschlandticket: This price increase is the beginning of the end

Opinion

Ministerial decision
This price increase is the beginning of the end of the Deutschlandticket

The Deutschlandticket will cost 58 euros in the future – nine euros more. Too little for the costs, too much for the users. The decision is likely to mark the end of the local transport subscription.

Coffee: up 20 percent. Bread rolls: up 30 percent. Sugar: up 80 percent. Olive oil, hold on tight: more than 100 percent. The rate of price increases in recent years has been severe, and not just for food. Inflation is falling again, but it is still noticeable. For example, with the Deutschlandticket: the price will rise from 49 to 58 euros next year – a significant increase. And perhaps the beginning of the end of the local transport subscription.

Deutschlandticket needs billions in injection

The price increase now decided by the transport ministers has been discussed for some time. In fact, it was already foreseeable when the tickets were introduced. Despite good user numbers, the 49 euros are nowhere near enough to cover the operating costs. The federal and state governments had to and still have to contribute many billions to cap the ticket price.

If Bavaria had been able to do so, the Deutschlandticket would have cost 64 euros. That is roughly the level at which experts believe it would cover costs. However, around a third of all users are not even prepared to spend more than the current 49 euros. as a survey has now shown. For one sixth, the pain threshold is 54 euros, for another quarter it is 59 euros.

Will half of them now cancel their subscription?

If all of these customers take it seriously and cancel their ticket subscriptions, the system will suddenly be missing more than half of all users. With financing already shaky, things would look even bleaker. The introduction of the 49-euro ticket has put such a big hole in the budget of some transport companies that they have had to reduce their bus and train services. Of course, this will not make public transport more attractive.

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Yes, a price increase for the Deutschlandticket was unavoidable, but it is a major setback for the transport transition. Especially since the fundamental deficiencies have not been resolved: such as the poorly developed local transport in rural areas and the fundamental underfunding of local public transport.

Will the Deutschlandticket 2025 come to an end?

After the current decision, it is even more uncertain than ever whether it will continue after 2025. The new ticket price barely covers the costs, but it scares off so many users that the local transport subscription will no longer be available by the end of next year. What a pity.