Tuesday, February 11
€58 ticket: Passengers stay loyal to Deutschlandticket despite price hike
The idea of a single flat-rate ticket for all public transport in Germany has been one of the most widely popular measures introduced in recent years. Of course, its price has fluctuated a bit. Initially launched as an emergency response to rising fuel costs following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ticket was offered as a three-month trial at just €9 per month. The initiative was so well-received that German politicians competed to reinstate it. First, Berlin introduced a €29 ticket for city-wide transport, then the federal government supplied the nationwide Deutschlandticket at €49 per month.
Each iteration, however, has diluted the offer somewhat. At the start of the year, the ticket price increased again, this time to €58. Despite the 15 percent hike, demand remains strong. The number of Deutschlandticket subscribers has risen to 13.5 million, and January’s cancellation rate stood at 8.1 percent, only slightly above the monthly average of 7 percent.
But although the ticket remains popular, its long-term future is uncertain. Funding is currently secured only for the coming year, and state and federal governments are still squabbling over who will cover the costs in the long term.
