(de-news.net) – Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) has expressed firm confidence in the continued success and attractiveness of the Germany Ticket, which is scheduled to be priced at 63 euros beginning in 2026. He reportedly emphasized that the federal government’s principal objective had been to secure the program’s extension beyond short-term planning cycles. In Schnieder’s view, the proposed pricing remained reasonable in light of the ticket’s broad applicability across regional and national public transport networks. Schnieder considered the goal of long-term continuity achieved, as the ticket is now guaranteed to remain in place until 2030, thereby offering users a predictable framework for mobility planning.
In light of this extended commitment, Schnieder is said to anticipate an increase in user numbers rather than a decline. He attributed this expected growth to the newly established long-term certainty surrounding the ticket’s availability. It was noted that many employers had previously refrained from offering job ticket schemes due to concerns about the program’s sustainability. With the framework now stabilized, Schnieder reportedly foresaw a rise in employer participation and an expansion of job ticket offerings, which he believed would contribute to stronger uptake in the corporate sector.
From 2027 onward, the pricing of the Germany Ticket will be governed by a fixed, index-based mechanism. Schnieder acknowledged that the magnitude of future price adjustments would depend on the behavior of this system. He reportedly pointed out that broader economic factors — such as inflationary pressures and rising labor costs — would inevitably exert influence on public transport pricing structures, including the Germany Ticket. These developments, he suggested, were consistent with trends affecting standard ticketing models across the sector.
Meanwhile, Schleswig-Holstein’s Transport Minister Claus Ruhe Madsen (CDU) has called for enhanced cooperation and binding agreements between the federal government and the Länder with regard to railway politics. According to reports, Madsen underscored the importance of strategic decision-making aimed at safeguarding the long-term viability of both rail and public transport systems. He maintained that the Federal Government bore responsibility for securing the financial underpinnings of the Germany Ticket, particularly in light of the fact that the states had fulfilled their respective obligations.
In addition to financial assurances, Madsen advocated for a more substantial role for the Länder in the governance of national railway operations. He reportedly proposed that state governments be granted formal representation on the supervisory board, thereby enabling more direct participation in oversight and strategic planning processes. This, he argued, would foster a more balanced and cooperative approach to managing Germany’s transport infrastructure over the coming years.
