Deutschlandticket: Transport Minister calls for it to be cheaper than a car!

Deutschlandticket: Transport Minister calls for it to be cheaper than a car!

Lower Saxony's Transport Minister Grant Hendrik Tonne has urgently warned that the Deutschlandticket (D-Ticket) must in future be cheaper than using a car in order to maintain its attractiveness. With the price increase at the beginning of the year from 49 to 58 euros per month, the ticket is no longer as cheap as it once was. This 18.4 percent increase is seen by some as a step backwards, especially in view of the many commuters who rely on local transport. Before the D-Ticket was introduced, most local transport subscriptions were significantly more expensive, which shows that something needs to change to motivate people to change. n-tv reports that the success of the ticket depends on uniform funding between the federal and state governments.

The D-Ticket is valid for all local public transport in Germany, including buses, regional trains, S-Bahn trains, subways and trams. Nevertheless, the lack of additional services that were often available with previous ticket subscriptions have limited the ticket in terms of what it can offer. In addition, interested users must order and cancel the ticket before the 10th of the month, which can be a hurdle for some. In many cities, the ticket is offered both as a digital subscription and in the form of a chip card. In certain cases, employers can also offer the Deutschlandticket as a job ticket, which may reduce costs. Loud Consumer advice center There are also various discounted offers for schoolchildren, trainees and students that have been announced in the media.

Incentives for public transport

Since its introduction on May 1, 2023, the Deutschlandticket has been seen as a means of promoting local public transport. The aim is to double the transport performance in local rail transport by 2030 and to make it easier to switch from car journeys to public transport. A survey from 2024 shows that 10.7 percent of trips have already been shifted from cars to public transport, which is a positive development. The Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) expects around 15 million users of the Deutschlandticket by the end of 2024. But: In order to get closer to this goal, reliability, good frequency and short travel times in public transport are crucial. Statista emphasizes that without additional financial resources, the long-term success of the D-Ticket is at risk.

The discussion about the financing of the ticket is becoming more intense as a dispute between the federal and state governments is foreseeable. Tonne calls for a fair and stable solution that ensures that users do not have to bear the entire burden. It is clear: a timely agreement between the parties involved is needed in order to give the transport transition the necessary financial support.

In summary, it can be said that the Deutschlandticket has many advantages, but at the same time it also presents challenges. The key to success will be making it cheaper than using a car. This is the only way the ticket can convince as a real alternative to private vehicles and really boost the use of public transport.