The chairman of the Conference of Transport Ministers, the North Rhine-Westphalian Transport Minister Oliver Krischer (Greens), emphasized once again that the Germany ticket was a “successful project”. “It will revolutionize public transport and will be accepted by the people of the country.”
Brandenburg’s department head Guido Beermann (CDU) confirmed that the states were prepared to “permanently finance half of the costs for the Deutschlandticket”. However, the federal government must take “responsibility for financing the other half”. The transport companies needed reliability here.
The federal and state governments have only agreed to cover half of the additional costs for this year. The total is around 400 million euros. Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) refuses to make such a promise for the coming year.
The transport ministers of the federal states emphasized that “open financing issues” needed to be clarified. Based on the findings for the first year since the introduction of the Deutschlandticket in May 2023, the financial security for the entire year 2024 should be updated by mid-2024, the conference explained. For a successful continuation of the ticket from 2025, “a new financial architecture” must then be introduced in good time.
The Bavarian Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU) said on Bayerischer Rundfunk that the financing of the additional costs of the 49 euro ticket had to be decided at the highest level: “It was actually clear that the Prime Minister would have to negotiate with the Chancellor. I see another possibility not.”
The head of the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations, Ramona Pop, criticized the lack of a decision at the transport ministers’ conference. “This is a very bad signal for the transport transition and for consumers.” The bickering must finally come to an end, she demanded. The Deutschlandticket is “one of the best ideas this federal government has had.” The uncertainties surrounding the price jeopardized acceptance.
