(de-news.net) – After being taken off the agenda of a summit of state transport ministers in Bavaria, a proposed statewide pay-as-you-go Deutschlandticket for infrequent public transportation users has been delayed. The smartphone-based solution, which is supported by Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, would cap monthly rates at the regular ticket price, but there are still issues with affordability. Pro Bahn, a passenger association, is in favor of the effort, pointing out that its more flexible price options could draw in drivers and infrequent users.

A proposal for a nationwide flexible Deutschlandticket aimed at occasional public transportation users has been put on hold after being removed from the agenda of a conference of state transport ministers in Schwangau, Bavaria. The initiative, jointly submitted by North Rhine-Westphalia and Hamburg, would allow passengers to pay for individual journeys through a smartphone app rather than commit to a fixed monthly subscription. Under the proposed arrangement, total monthly fares would be capped at the regular Deutschlandticket price. However, a nationwide rollout remains uncertain amid concerns about affordability, particularly in Bavaria.

A smartphone-based alternative to monthly subscriptions

The proposed system would use a digital check-in/check-out mechanism to calculate fares automatically for individual trips. North Rhine-Westphalia would be responsible for developing the model, drawing on its existing eezy.nrw service, which selects the cheapest fare for each journey and caps monthly spending at the price of a Deutschlandticket.

Oliver Krischer, North Rhine-Westphalia’s transport minister and a member of the Greens, argued that occasional passengers should have access to the same convenient and fairly priced public transportation options as regular users. The Deutschlandticket currently costs 63 euros per month, with an increase to 66.80 euros scheduled for January. The proposed spending cap would therefore allow infrequent travelers to pay for individual journeys without exceeding the standard monthly subscription price.

Pro Bahn sees potential to attract occasional passengers

The passenger association Pro Bahn welcomed the proposal, arguing that a flexible nationwide ticket could encourage people who use buses and trains only occasionally to make greater use of public transportation. For passengers whose travel patterns do not justify a monthly subscription, a pay-as-you-go arrangement could offer a more suitable alternative.

Detlef Neuß, the association’s honorary chairman, emphasized that occasional users should also benefit from lower fares. He also pointed to rising fuel costs as a potential incentive for motorists to switch to buses and trains. Among the options he suggested were nationwide day passes and ticket arrangements for families and groups, broadening the potential appeal of a flexible fare system.

The conference is scheduled to resume with discussions of a proposed railway toll and low water levels in rivers. The flexible Deutschlandticket proposal, meanwhile, remains unresolved, with questions about affordability continuing to complicate the prospect of a nationwide arrangement for occasional public transportation users.