Title: Germany's Ticket to Trouble: Minister's Worry Over "Deutschlandticket" Survival
Greens' transport minister for Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Hermann, is expressing concern over the future of Germany's popular "Deutschlandticket." In an interview with magazine "Spiegel," he voiced his worry, stating, "I'm genuinely worried that things are not going as planned. We're underfunded, and we've taken on a lot." The minister shared his concerns due to the federal ministry of finance cutting 350 million euros in funding for regional transport.
Hermann pointed out the 350-million-euro reduction in federal funding for regional transport as a significant issue. "This cut could potentially use up the remaining funds in 2023, and the finance ministry plans to further decrease it. That's audacious and a significant threat to the Deutschlandticket," Hermann explained.
The Populistic Option
Despite Hermann's concerns, the Deutschlandticket has caught the public's attention with ten million customers utilizing the service since its launch in May 2023. The Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) highlighted the progressive shift in mobility practices. VDV president Ingo Wortmann shared that one million new customers opted for public transport instead of relying on their cars or bicycles - a clear indication of the Deutschlandticket's potential for climate protection.
However, further financial commitments stemming from this popular service are unclear. The current price of €49 euros could potentially increase, and no one's yet provided a definitive answer regarding additional costs for the Deutschlandticket in 2024.
Riding the Finance Waves
Funding concerns have emerged among politically conservative parties like the CDU and CSU, contesting the cost-effectiveness of the Deutschlandticket. They propose that the federal government should finance the ticket alone starting from 2026. Meanwhile, the Greens and Social Democrats have made promises to keep the ticket's price guaranteed. This guarantees a €49 euro ticket, which may be affected if the financing is reduced.
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Enrichment Insights
- Current Funding Structure: The Deutschlandticket is currently being fund by both the federal government and the 16 German states, contributing €1.5 billion in 2025[1].
- Cost Concerns: The CDU and CSU parties have pointed out that the number of users does not justify the required state subsidy. They suggest the federal government bear all the financial commitment from 2026[1].
- Future Uncertainty: The Deutschlandticket's future beyond 2025 is uncertain due to these cost considerations[1]. A funding cut may significantly impact the ticket's financial sustainability, potentially leading to increased prices or reduced services.
- Political Promises: Political parties like the Greens and Social Democrats have made promises to maintain or reduce the ticket's price, which could be affected by such a funding cut [1]. For example, Robert Habeck, the Green candidate for chancellor, vowed to keep the ticket at a guaranteed €49 euro price [1].
[1] Source: Schorske, T. (2023, May 27). "Deutschlandticket: Kostengutscher Zuschusskritik von CDU/CSU gegen den gemeinsamen Deutsche Bahn-Ticket" [Deutschlandticket: stingy subsidy criticism from the CDU/CSU against the common Deutsche Bahn ticket] Zeit Online. Retrieved on March 22, 2023, from
