According to a recent survey, the Deutschlandticket has lured thousands of people into local public transport who had not used it before.
Eight percent of ticket buyers stated in the nationwide market research of the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) that they had not previously used public transport. As the VDV announced, 42 percent already had a public transport subscription. 47 percent used the bus and train, but without a subscription.
The federal and state governments are struggling for further funding
The association assumes that in the coming months some users of other public transport subscriptions will switch to the monthly ticket, which is valid nationwide and costs 49 euros. “But an agreement between the federal and state governments on the follow-up financing of the ticket in the coming years would be urgently required,” said association president Ingo Wortmann.
The federal and state governments are already struggling over further funding. Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP), for example, attracted a great deal of criticism with the suggestion that the federal states should save on the transport associations and on sales costs so that the public transport offer could also be improved. He does not want to provide more money from the federal government for the Germany ticket.
According to market research, the Deutschlandticket is already making a small contribution to the traffic turnaround that is necessary in view of the climate crisis. Around five percent of all journeys with the Germany ticket would have been made by car without the ticket.
Ticket more popular in cities
However, market research also clearly shows that the ticket is more popular in cities than in the country – i.e. where the public transport offer is usually more extensive. In metropolitan and large cities, 20 to 30 percent of those surveyed have a Deutschlandticket, in small towns and rural areas, on the other hand, only 6 percent.
“This shows once again that a cheap public transport ticket alone is not enough to persuade people to buy and thus switch to bus and train. This can only be achieved if the local offer is attractive enough,” said VDV President Wortman. “Therefore, after the Germany ticket, the Germany offer for public transport must follow promptly.”
Lots of potential for more customers
A total of around 10 million passengers used the Deutschlandticket in July and August. In May, i.e. the first month of the ticket for local and regional transport, there were 9 million users. According to the VDV, 11 million Germany ticket subscriptions were sold.
The difference of one million is mainly due to the users who have already bought a ticket, but which will only be valid later. And from those who no longer used their current ticket.
According to the VDV, there is still a lot of potential for more Deutschlandticket customers: “First and foremost, the approximately three million students should be mentioned here, for whom there is unfortunately still no political solution for a nationwide uniform Deutschlandticket,” said Wortmann. In addition, the changeover from job tickets in companies to the Germany ticket came to a standstill during the holiday months. “Here we are assuming an increase in new contracts and conversions from September onwards,” said Wortmann.
