For months we discussed, argued and prepared – now it’s available to everyone: Since early Monday morning, interested parties have been able to take out the 49-euro monthly subscription for local and regional public transport.
“The great success of a flat rate for local transport continues,” said a spokeswoman for Deutsche Bahn on request. “People want the Deutschlandticket. This morning we had twice as much traffic on our digital sales channels as on a normal Monday.” The ticket can also be purchased from all other regional transport companies and associations. As a rule, it is also possible to take out a contract in the respective customer center on site.
The 49-euro ticket, which is valid from May, is the successor to the 9-euro ticket from last summer. It enables nationwide journeys in the buses and trains of local and regional public transport. The so-called Deutschlandticket is only available as a monthly subscription and is issued as a chip card or mobile phone ticket. Paper tickets will also be available temporarily until the end of the year, but they must be digitally controllable. The paper solution was introduced for associations that still need some time for digitization. The monthly price is – as the name suggests – 49 euros.
Several million additional passengers?
It can be even cheaper for commuters if their employer goes along with them. As a job ticket, the ticket only costs 34.30 euros or less. The prerequisite is that employers give at least 25 percent as a subsidy. Then there will be an additional five percent discount from the federal government until the end of 2024.
The subscription is intended to make regional and local public transport more attractive and affordable. After months of wrangling, the federal and state governments had agreed to each bear half the cost of the ticket. Last Friday, the Federal Council approved the measure and thus cleared the last political hurdle.
The Association of German Transport Companies expects around 5.6 million new customers. According to the forecast, eleven million existing subscription customers will switch to the Deutschlandticket.
Passenger Association criticizes the lack of offer
There is also criticism of the offer. Last year, the high demand for the 9-euro ticket had already pushed local public transport to its limits and beyond. “Buses and trains are already jam-packed, especially at peak times, the supply in rural areas is meager, and there is a lack of staff everywhere,” said Stefan Körzell, a member of the board of the German Trade Union Confederation. The top priority is therefore to provide enough money for local public transport.
Above all, passenger associations such as Pro Bahn are demanding an expansion of the infrastructure and more vehicles and staff in order to be able to meet the high demand at all. Even free local transport is of no use if the quality of the offer is not right, emphasized recently the Pro-Bahn honorary chairman, Karl-Peter Naumann. “Germany now needs an expansion offensive for buses and trains so that this ticket becomes a real alternative to their own car for more people,” said Marion Tiemann, mobility expert at Greenpeace.