THE German Parliament passed an amendment to the Regionalisation Act on November 7 to extend the Deutschlandticket until 2030. The future of the subscription-based national rail pass, that offers unlimited travel on local and regional transport for a monthly fee, had been in doubt since it was introduced in April 2023.
The government previously renewed the pass on an annual basis, with some politicians suggesting that it should be withdrawn due to the €3bn in annual funding required from both federal and state governments.
The monthly cost of the ticket has risen from the original €49 to €58, increasing to €63 from the start of next year. From 2027 onwards, the price will be adjusted by the cost of living index. The ticket currently has around 14 million subscribers.
The long-term extension of the ticket was recommended by a special conference of state transport ministers in September and was approved by the federal government’s transport committee on November 5.
Industry response
In a statement issued on November 7, the Federal Association of Local Rail Transport (BNV) welcomes the long-term future of the Deutschlandticket. “This will finally put an end to the annual discussions about the Deutschlandticket and provide the necessary planning security for all stakeholders,” the statement says.
“The federal and state governments have fixed their annual subsidies, but at the same time rising wages and operating costs of public transport authorities and railway companies must be taken into account. The goal should be to significantly increase the number of subscribers by 2030.”
