In many regions, local public transport will become more expensive again in the new year. Several transport associations, particularly large ones, are increasing fares on January 1st, as an evaluation by the German Press Agency of around a dozen associations has shown. These include, among others, the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association (VBB), the Rhine-Ruhr Transport Association (VRR) and the Munich Transport Association (MVV). Other associations have already increased prices this year, and others want to decide on this in the spring.
Prices are rising most significantly in the examined associations in the Augsburg Transport and Tariff Association (AVV). Bus and train tickets there will cost an average of 12.7 percent more from January 1st, as the AVV announced. A single ticket there costs 1.90 euros, which is cheap compared to other areas. However, it is difficult to compare the individual tariffs because the associations are of different sizes and the transport networks have different densities.
Fares are also rising significantly in North Rhine-Westphalia: by an average of 10.4 percent in the Rhein-Sieg transport association (VRS) and by 9.4 percent in the Rhine-Ruhr transport association (VRR). In the VRR, the cheapest variant will cost a single ticket 3.30 euros and the most expensive 17.90 euros.
The justification for the fare increases is always the increased costs for companies, especially in terms of energy and personnel. At the Verkehrsverbund Mittelthüringen (VMT), for example, those responsible describe the situation as dramatic. Price adjustments are not due there in January; the deadline for this in VMT is traditionally August 1st. “But we will have to deal with it,” said managing director Christoph Heuing when asked.
In Berlin and Brandenburg, prices will also rise on January 1st, by an average of 6.7 percent. The most recent price increase was only eight months ago. The VBB postponed it from January to April of this year. The group is now returning to its usual rhythm. The VBB also points to increased costs for personnel, fuel and energy. Greater Hannover Transport (GVH) is also increasing ticket prices, by an average of 7 percent as of January 1st.
However, the price adjustments are significantly lower in the Munich Transport and Tariff Association (MVV). The shareholders there decided on a price adjustment of an average of 4.3 percent in January. “This is one of the lowest price increases in public transport in Germany this year,” said the association. “Up to 10.8 percent tariff increase would be necessary to compensate the transport companies in the MVV for the increased costs,” it said.
Public transport in Germany is financed, on the one hand, from so-called regionalization funds. The other half comes from passenger revenue for the transport companies. It is the only screw that companies can turn to compensate for rising costs.
The fare increases always only relate to the tariff offers of the respective associations. The price of the Germany ticket remains unaffected. The subscription, which allows holders to travel on local and regional transport nationwide, costs 49 euros per month. The subscription can be canceled monthly.
But there, too, a price increase is not unlikely in the coming year. The federal and state governments are compensating for losses that transport companies incur because of the Germany Ticket. This year they will also cover any additional costs in equal parts. But next year these should also be offset by a higher price for the Germany ticket.
