Public transport flat rate - Nationwide validity? Once upon a time. First district no longer accepts Deutschlandticket on buses
It's so easy: criss-cross the country by bus and train and no longer have to worry about finding the right ticket. The uncomplicated, nationwide validity is one of the main arguments in favor of the Deutschlandticket - but now the first district is pulling out and announcing that it will no longer accept the public transport flat rate on its buses. This means that nationwide validity is a thing of the past and another step towards a patchwork of fares.
Deutschlandticket no longer valid on buses in the district of Stendal
According to media reports, the ticket will no longer be recognized on city and regional buses in the district of S tendal (Saxony-Anhalt) from 1 January 2024. This was decided by a majority of the district council this week. The reason for this was that the district, which has around 110,000 inhabitants, would have to subsidize the Deutschlandticket with around 120,000 euros.
Money that the district did not want to spend on this. "On the one hand, we are working hard to consolidate our budget. And secondly, the Deutschlandticket cannot be used by our citizens as part of our local public transport bus service. This is out of all proportion," Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk quoted Annegret Schwarz (CDU), chairwoman of the district council, as saying. In plain language: the coffers are empty and too few people in the region travel by bus.
However, the Deutschlandticket remains valid on regional trains in the district of Stendal. The federal state is responsible for rail transport, not the district.
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- Despite the nationwide validity being a key benefit of the Germany ticket, the District Council in Saxony-Anhalt's District of Stendal has decided not to recognize it on buses from January 1, 2024, citing budgetary constraints and lack of local use.
- As the Germany ticket remains valid on regional trains in the District of Stendal, passengers can still opt for rail travel within the district, as the responsibility for rail transport falls under the federal state.
- The District of Stendal, which has around 110,000 inhabitants, had been required to subsidize the Germany ticket with around 120,000 euros, a financial burden the district council chose to avoid.
Source: www.stern.de
