The €3.80 increase is attributed to rising personnel, energy, and other operating costs, according to Bavaria’s Transport Ministry, which currently chairs the conference of Germany’s state transport ministers. The new calculation method also accounts for the fact that federal and state subsidies remain fixed at a combined €3 billion annually. Consequently, the discounted job ticket will rise to €63.46, and the student semester ticket will cost €40.08.
Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger, of the Christian Democratic Union, stated that the ticket remains “a very attractive offer” despite the increase. In contrast, North Rhine-Westphalia Transport Minister Oliver Krischer, of the Greens, criticized the move, arguing that the federal government had promised price stability. Krischer noted that the ticket has become approximately 36% more expensive since its launch at €49 in 2023.
The Deutschlandticket covers unlimited local and regional public transport, including buses, trams, subways, and short-to-medium distance trains, but excludes long-distance services operated by DB Fernverkehr AG, such as ICE and EC trains. Approximately 14.5 million people currently use the pass. It was introduced as a successor to the €9-per-month ticket trialed in the summer of 2022, which saw over 52 million tickets sold across three months.
While the monthly price rises, state transport ministers are also proposing a more flexible option for occasional travelers. A draft resolution from the ministers’ conference envisions a nationwide offer for users who do not commute daily, potentially using a smartphone-based “check-in/out” system. This proposal, originating from the ministers of North Rhine-Westphalia and Hamburg, aims to allow passengers to pay as they go. Krischer, who is set to develop the offer if approved, cited the “eezy.nrw” model in North Rhine-Westphalia as a potential framework, where users are charged the cheapest available price per route with a monthly cap that does not exceed the standard Deutschlandticket cost.
The ticket is available for purchase during the first 10 days of the month for which it is valid. For international travelers, the pass is often purchased through regional transport organizations, such as the Verkehrsverbund Bremen/Niedersachsen, as it operates on a subscription model with automatic monthly renewal.
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