(de-news.net) – Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) has proposed linking the price of the Deutschlandicket to inflation as a potential solution for sustainable pricing, suggesting this would eliminate the need for annual renegotiations. While federal and state governments appear unwilling to exceed the existing 1.5-billion-euro subsidy, Schnieder maintained the ticket remains attractive despite potential price increases, citing its comparative affordability and broader utility.
Social Democratic Party (SPD) representatives at both federal and state levels advocated for the sustained and economically viable continuation of the Deutschlandticket. Armand Zorn, Deputy Chair of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag, emphasized the ticket’s price as a critical determinant of its success. He proposed a fixed cost allocation framework alongside the maintenance of a stable fare for users.
Hessian Minister of Transport Kaweh Mansoori (SPD) likewise endorsed the continuation of the initiative, characterizing it as “a complete success.” He asserted that the Deutschlandticket has substantially enhanced the mobility of millions and now necessitates reliable and long-term financial support. The state of Hesse remains committed to fulfilling its financial obligations to ensure the persistence of this essential public transportation measure.
Meanwhile, Green Party parliamentary leader Katharina Dröge advocated for reinstating the original 49-euro price in light of declining user numbers, particularly among young people and low-income groups. She emphasized the ticket’s significance for equitable access to transport and warned that current coalition policies might threaten its longevity, calling for reliable, long-term funding. North Rhine-Westphalia’s Transport Minister Oliver Krischer (Green Party), on his part, acknowledged general consensus on indexing the price but criticized this measure as inadequate without resolving fundamental financial, administrative, and marketing frameworks.
Following a price hike to 58 euros in January 2025, user numbers fell by over one million, with survey data from the VDV and Deutsche Bahn attributing more than half the decline to the increase – especially pronounced in job and youth segments.
