Future of D-ticket raising concerns in Lower Saxony
The federal government, along with the states, has made a commitment to provide 1.5 billion euros per year until 2030 for the Germany Ticket, a nationwide rail pass that has been in use since May 2023 and is currently used by approximately 14 million people.
However, the price of the Germany Ticket has seen an increase from 49 to 58 euros at the beginning of the year, and it is set to increase further to 63 euros per month. This price hike has been a cause for concern for Lower Saxony's Transport Minister Grant Hendrik Tonne, who expressed his regret that the increase may affect individuals with tight budgets.
In an effort to address this issue, Tonne proposed that the federal government and other states contribute to offsetting the additional costs to stabilize the price of the Germany Ticket. Bavaria's Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter also announced that the 'political price-setting' for the Germany Ticket will soon end, indicating a shift towards a more market-driven approach.
From 2027 onwards, the price of the Germany Ticket will be determined by a cost index to be developed by autumn. This index will be based on factors such as wage and energy costs and will provide long-term pricing clarity to users and transport companies. The development of this cost index will be the responsibility of the transport ministers' conference, which is to establish this index by fall 2025 after industry consultation.
Tonne argued that continuing to pass on increases to customers may make the Germany Ticket less attractive. He suggested a meeting to discuss a mechanism for the years after 2027 to address this concern. Bernreiter, on the other hand, argued that ending political price-setting is necessary to ensure a more sustainable and competitive transport market.
Despite these concerns, both Tonne and Bernreiter agreed on the importance of the Germany Ticket in promoting sustainable transport and connecting people across the country. The development and implementation of the cost index are expected to provide a more transparent and fair pricing mechanism for the Germany Ticket moving forward.
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