The demand for the Deutschlandticket is unbroken: According to the Association of German Transport Companies, around eleven million subscriptions have been sold to date. Now the nationwide expansion of public transport is necessary to further improve the offer.
A good seven weeks after the launch of the Deutschlandticket, up to eleven million ticket subscriptions have been sold. This was announced by the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) at its annual conference in Leipzig.
The popularity of the ticket, which is valid nationwide, must now be used to sustainably raise public transport throughout Germany to a new level of quality and to meet passenger expectations.
“Passengers not only buy this ticket because it’s cheap, but also because they want to use it everywhere in Germany,” said VDV President Ingo Wortmann. The density and quality of public transport vary greatly across the country. “In the metropolitan areas, we urgently need additional capacities when there is a good supply. And in many rural areas we also urgently need a better supply overall.”
Financing unclear
For the expansion of public transport, a reliable commitment from politicians for further financing is necessary. According to Wortmann, the expansion of public transport alone would cost around 48 billion euros by 2030. “Otherwise the industry cannot do its part in the climate change.”
According to the VDV, almost half of the ticket subscriptions (46 percent) were subscribed to by people who were already regular customers. 44 percent are new subscribers who have used public transport occasionally or more regularly in the past. Eight percent of ticket subscriptions fall on people who have hardly ever taken the bus or train.
Nationwide validity and attractive price
The ticket price of 49 euros in the introductory phase was “politically agreed for two years”. The association therefore assumes that it will remain at 49 euros during this period. However, an increase is possible afterwards.
However, the price of the ticket is one of the most common reasons for the purchase: 36 percent of those surveyed named the price or saving costs, 41 percent the nationwide validity. 22 percent named environmental protection.
Reasons against this were often that the ticket was not worthwhile or used too seldom (41 percent) and that there was no need (38 percent). Around 6,000 people aged 14 and over are surveyed every month.
ProBahn: “Purchase too complicated”
According to the ProBahn passenger association, around two months after the start of the Deutschlandticket, many customers are still finding it difficult to purchase. The fact that the ticket can only be purchased online, through travel centers or with the help of the subscription service poses challenges for many and is too complicated, which deters many interested parties from buying, said Andreas Schröder from the Pro Bahn association of the dpa news agency.
Older people in particular wanted a less bureaucratic alternative. The fact that the ticket can only be bought as a subscription is also a negative factor. Thus, for example, travelers from abroad are excluded from the offer. Overall, however, satisfaction would have developed mostly positively. “It’s better than the 9-euro ticket because the trains aren’t that crowded,” said Schröder.