Bus and train providers are insisting on secure financing for the future 49-euro ticket for nationwide local transport beyond the start-up phase. “Plannable and permanent financing” is necessary, without which such a ticket cannot be offered, according to a statement by the Association of German Transport Companies for a hearing in the Bundestag. The federal government initially wants to provide 1.5 billion euros each from 2023 to 2025 to compensate for half of the loss of income from transport providers. The other half should take over the countries.
The Federal Association of German Bus Companies explained: “The low price of the offer ensures that it will become the dominant fare product. Not many season tickets will be able to exist alongside the Deutschlandticket.” In many cases it should be worth booking it instead of two single tickets for a return trip over medium distances. For the companies, however, a cornerstone of financing, ticket income, is weakened. “It is correspondingly important with the Deutschlandticket to proceed carefully to ensure that this loss of revenue is compensated for by the companies,” says the statement.
The nationwide public transport ticket is scheduled to start on May 1st. It should cost 49 euros a month, which is expressly referred to as the “introductory price” – later increases are therefore possible. A digitally bookable, monthly terminable subscription is planned. The offer should build on the popular 9-euro ticket from last summer. Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing has introduced a bill on financing to the Bundestag. The Transport Committee will deal with this in an expert hearing on Wednesday.
