The Bavarian Association of Cities and Towns hasn't ruled out local public transport operators in Bavaria opting out of the Deutschlandticket. Stendal, a district council in Saxony-Anhalt, decided to stop honoring the ticket on their buses from January. Achim Sing, the association's spokesperson, mentioned budget constraints as a potential reason for municipalities to withdraw from the ticket.
Bavaria's Transport Minister, Christian Bernreiter (CSU), stated he hadn't noticed similar decisions from Bavarian municipalities yet. However, a permanent solution needs to be found at the beginning of next year, with a potential price increase for the monthly ticket, currently costing 49 euros. The funding for the Deutschlandticket is secured until April, with the local authorities paying compensation to public transport companies for revenue shortfalls, and the Free State compensating the local authorities according to national guidelines.
Sing expressed concerns that the Deutschlandticket's long-term existence is in doubt if the Conference of Transport Ministers fails to present an acceptable funding solution by February. According to Sing, the Federal State should assume responsibility for financing the ticket together with the federal government. The federal government and states have currently contributed €1.5 billion each annually, but there are concerns about long-term financing and a potential price increase.
The Stendal district council's decision provides a glimpse of potential opposition in various parts of Germany to the Deutschlandticket, which offers unlimited rail and bus travel for one monthly price. The ticket's impact on public transport budgets and the willingness of local authorities to continue participating remain topics of debate.
