The way is clear for the start of the 49-euro ticket for millions of passengers in nationwide public transport on 1 May. After the Bundestag, the Bundesrat also approved a financing law on Friday. The start of sales is already planned for this Monday.
According to the law, the federal government will provide 2023.2025 billion euros in each of the years 1 to 5 to compensate for half of the loss of revenue for transport providers due to the low ticket price. The other half is to be paid for by the Länder.
The "Deutschlandticket" is to start with an introductory price of 49 euros per month on 1 May and build on the popular 9-euro ticket from summer 2022. A digitally bookable, monthly cancellable subscription is planned, which is valid on buses and trains throughout Germany. According to the Federal Ministry of Transport, formal approval by the EU Commission is not required.
Later price increases are possible
The Deutschlandticket is intended to make local public transport (ÖPNV) more attractively priced and to encourage many to switch from cars to buses and trains. Later price increases of the ticket are possible. In recent weeks, many transport companies have already taken pre-orders for the new ticket.
Brandenburg's Minister of Transport Guido Beermann (CDU) called the 49-euro ticket an enormously attractive offer. He called on the Federal Government to integrate the Bahncard 50 into the Deutschlandticket. This would create a clear incentive to switch from cars to trains in long-distance transport as well.
Warning against fragmentation
Saxony's Transport Minister Martin Dulig (SPD) warned of a fragmentation of the ticket. If possible, there must be uniform regulations around the ticket nationwide, for example for students or when taking bicycles with you.
Hesse's Transport Minister Tarek Al-Wazir (Greens) spoke of the biggest revolution in buses and trains in decades: "One ticket, one price, all of Germany." However, an expansion of the infrastructure is necessary. The states have long been calling for a significant increase in federal funding.
The railway commissioner of the Federal Government, Transport State Secretary Michael Theurer (FDP), called the Germany Ticket a huge step forward for the people.
Bremen's mobility senator Maike Schaefer (Greens) said the ticket was nothing less than the end of the small-state mentality in local transport and the tariff jungle. The 49-euro ticket is a milestone on the way to the mobility transition and a contribution to climate protection.
In 2022, CO2 emissions in the transport sector had risen compared to the previous year, and the annual amount of emissions permitted by the Federal Climate Protection Act was exceeded. Experts see a large gap so that climate targets can be achieved in the medium and long term.