Status: 02/01/2023 12:35 p.m
Another hurdle in the Germany ticket has been cleared: the cabinet has approved grants of 1.5 billion euros per year. The countries contribute the same amount. The ticket will initially cost 49 euros – later it could become more expensive.
The financing was discussed for a long time, now the federal government has decided on subsidies for the Deutschlandticket. By 2025, 1.5 billion euros are to be made available each year. The cabinet decided that. The federal states also want to make 1.5 billion available annually. Higher introductory costs are expected, which the federal and state governments want to share in the first year.
In the draft law, which is available to the Reuters news agency, it is indicated that the price of 49 euros will not have to remain the same in the coming years. There is talk of “an introductory price of 49 euros per month with a monthly subscription”.
Christoph Mestmacher, ARD Berlin, on the cabinet decisions
tagesschau24 12:00 p.m., 1.2.2023
Financing for 2023 expected to be secured
It is also said that for the years after 2023, the federal and state governments would clarify together how the financing with the agreed grants of 1.5 billion euros each and the ticket income will be ensured. For 2023, however, the financing is likely to be secured, since the ticket only has to be financed from May and thus only for eight months of the year.
The Germany ticket is to be the successor to the 9-euro ticket from the summer, which was sold over 50 million times. It was valid from June to August, for nine euros a month people could use local transport throughout Germany. This principle should also apply to the new Deutschlandticket for 49 euros.
Digital ticket or QR code on paper
In buses and trains, only digital controls should be used. In transport associations that are not yet able to implement this, passengers will also receive proof of the validity of their 49-euro ticket via QR code, for example on paper.
There should also be a job ticket with an additional five percent discount if employers pay at least 25 percent of the price. The transport company had said that the sale from April 3rd and the start on May 1st would be possible if the last questions were clarified.
Now the Bundestag and Bundesrat have to discuss the draft law and decide on the Germany ticket. In addition to the regionalization law, the approval of the EU Commission is also required, which is still pending.