49 euro ticket - State minister warns of significantly more expensive Germany ticket
The chairman of the Transport Ministers Conference, NRW Minister Oliver Krischer (Greens), warned of a significant price increase for Germany tickets in local and regional transport. The background is a financial dispute with the Federal Government. The ticket currently costs around 49 Euro per month on average.
In a letter from Krischer to Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (both FDP), it says: "I see the great danger that soon an unmanageable patchwork will emerge with areas where the Germany ticket can be continued, and others where, for financial reasons, it must be given up. To prevent this, the only option is to significantly increase the price of the Germany ticket very short-term."
There may be a special Transport Ministers Conference at the beginning of next week. The letter, which was first reported by "RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland" (RND), was available to the German Press Agency.
Background of Krischer's warnings: In a paper adopted by the Transport Ministers Conference of the States in April, it is stated that the transfer of unused funds from 2023, which were not taken up by the states in November, is a prerequisite for keeping the price of the Germany ticket at 49 Euro per month this year. The Federal Government should make the necessary amendment to the Regionalization Law without delay.
Krischer: SOS calls from the industry
Krischer criticized that the change had not yet taken place. The industry is lacking the important signal from the Federal Parliament before the summer break that the Federal Government is keeping its promises. "I am receiving more and more SOS calls from duty bearers who see the current funding situation as inadequate and uncertain. Many duty bearers have therefore made decisions that usually plan for the end of the Germany ticket in the fall of 2024." This is also understandable. Without an annual usage option for the funds from 2023, the funds available for 2024 are only sufficient to finance the Germany ticket until approximately the end of September.
The Federal Cabinet must make changes to the Regionalization Law before the summer break, according to Krischer. "Without such a step, the Federal Government's position on necessary price increases for the Germany ticket would still lead to a significant financial burden for more than 11 million female customers and male customers in 2024."
The Germany ticket, which currently costs 49 Euro per month, can be used nationwide in local and regional transport since May 1, 2023. Around eleven million tickets were sold last month. The money from the Federal Government and the States is needed to offset revenue losses for transport companies due to the significantly cheaper fare offer compared to previous offers.
- Minister Oliver Krischer, from NRW and chair of the Transport Ministers Conference, raised concerns about an imminent price increase for Germany tickets in local and regional transport.
- Krischer argued that without a significant price increase, a disparity might emerge, making it impossible to continue the Germany ticket in certain areas due to financial constraints.
- The letter from Krischer to Christian Lindner (FDP, Federal Finance Minister) and Volker Wissing (FDP, Federal Transport Minister) stated this issue.
- The RND, Editorial Network Germany, first reported on Krischer's letter, which was later obtained by the German Press Agency.
- Krischer lamented that the change needed to address the financial dispute had not occurred yet, with the industry seeking clarity before the summer break.
- Krischer emphasized that failing to make changes to the Regionalization Law before the summer break would likely result in excessive price increases for more than 11 million Germany ticket holders in 2024.
