(de-news.net) – A nationwide pay-as-you-go transit ticket that would cap monthly expenses at the Deutschlandticket price and charge passengers for public transportation based on distance traveled is still being considered in Germany. The idea from North Rhine-Westphalia and Hamburg has been praised by Transport Minister Steffen Bilger, but Bavaria and the transportation sector are against it, citing worries about how it will affect current subscriptions and the sector’s capacity to make ends meet. State transport ministers have put off talks until they receive more information.

Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger has welcomed a proposal to introduce a nationwide pay-as-you-go ticket for occasional public transit users, describing it as a promising way to simplify access to bus and rail services. However, unresolved questions about financing and implementation have prompted state transport ministers to postpone consideration of the plan. Proposed by North Rhine-Westphalia and Hamburg, the system would calculate fares according to journeys taken while limiting passengers’ total monthly expenditure to the price of the Deutschlandticket.

The digital fare system aims to improve accessibility

Bilger, a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), emphasized the importance of making public transportation accessible and straightforward to use, noting that digital technology could create additional opportunities. Although the Conference of Transport Ministers postponed consideration of the proposal until a subsequent meeting, the federal ministry intends to monitor further developments.

Under the proposed smartphone-based system, passengers would check in at the beginning of their journeys and check out at their destinations, paying according to the distances traveled. An automated calculation would determine the cheapest applicable fare, while a monthly spending cap would ensure that total costs did not exceed the price of the Deutschlandticket. The subscription currently costs 63 euros per month and is scheduled to increase to 66.80 euros in January.

North Rhine-Westphalia already operates a comparable arrangement through its eezy.nrw app. State Transport Minister Oliver Krischer of the Greens argued that occasional passengers should enjoy the same convenient and affordable access to buses and trains as frequent travelers. Under the proposed nationwide initiative, his state would develop the practical framework for implementing an electronic fare system.

The initiative would complement the existing Deutschlandticket rather than replace it. By allowing occasional users to pay for individual journeys while providing a monthly price ceiling, its proponents aim to make public transportation more convenient for passengers who do not travel frequently enough to justify a subscription.

Bavaria opposes additional subsidized fares

Christian Bernreiter (CSU), Bavaria’s Transport Minister, has strongly opposed introducing another subsidized ticket. As chair of the Conference of Transport Ministers, he argued that existing funding shortfalls affecting regional rail services made further expansion of publicly funded transportation benefits difficult to justify. States were already seeking additional support from the Federal Government, he noted, while struggling to maintain existing services.

Bernreiter also warned that a pay-as-you-go ticket capped at the monthly price of the Deutschlandticket could prompt existing subscribers to cancel their passes. If occasional travelers could obtain comparable price protection without committing to a monthly subscription, he argued, the established system could lose customers and revenue. He maintained that securing the existing Deutschlandticket already represented a substantial achievement and questioned whether the Federal Government and all state governments would support the proposed alternative.

Although Bernreiter acknowledged the importance of improving digital ticketing and ensuring barrier-free access to public transportation, he rejected the introduction of a reduced-price version of the Deutschlandticket. He indicated that most other state transport ministers shared his position.

Transport industry questions the proposal’s viability

The Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) has also criticized the initiative, warning that a new pay-as-you-go system could undermine the financial rationale of the Deutschlandticket. The existing model offers nationwide travel for a fixed monthly price and allows subscribers to cancel monthly, with its appeal resting partly on this straightforward pricing structure. Alexander Möller, the association’s managing director responsible for local public transportation, said the industry lacked the resources needed to support the additional offer.

The proposal was removed from the agenda at the beginning of the latest Conference of Transport Ministers meeting, and was not discussed. According to reports from state government sources, the application submitted by North Rhine-Westphalia and Hamburg had been introduced too shortly before the meeting to receive consideration. The postponement now leaves the proposed nationwide ticket at an exploratory stage, with the opposition from Bavaria and the transport industry representing a significant obstacle. Further progress will depend on resolving implementation questions and establishing whether the proposed model can coexist with the existing Deutschlandticket.