Adjustments to tariffs and ticket prices effective from 1st August 2025 in Westphalia
**WestfalenTarif Announces Major Digital Transition and Price Adjustments from August 2025**
Beginning August 1, 2025, the WestfalenTarif, a public transport network spanning Münsterland, Ruhr-Lippe, Paderborn/Höxter, Westfalen-Süd, and Ostwestfalen-Lippe, will undergo significant changes, focusing on a moderate price increase and a shift towards digital ticketing [1][2][3].
The **price adjustment** is aimed at keeping the bus and rail offer in Westphalia attractive and future-proof, as the ongoing challenges resulting from the handling of the uncovered public transport costs for the Germany ticket also influence the pricing. Across nearly all ticket types, passengers can expect a general price increase of about 5.29%.
Key **detailed changes across the region** are:
- **Elimination of paper tickets with a validation (entwerten) function**. This means tickets that require stamping before travel (like the common 4er-Ticket and its children’s version) will no longer be sold or offered from August 2025[1][2]. Instead, ticket validation will be fully digitalized.
- The **4er-Ticket and 4er-Ticket for children** are discontinued in the entire WestfalenTarif area from August 2025, reducing options for occasional travelers who used these multi-ride tickets on paper[1].
- **10er-Tickets are only available digitally via the VKU App from August 2025**; paper versions are phased out except in exceptions like Bocholt city buses where entwerter devices remain for now[1][2].
- Tickets previously purchased with an entwerter field before July 31, 2025, can still be used until October 31, 2025. From November onwards, entwerter machines on platforms, buses, and trains will be removed gradually[1][2].
- For night buses, the regular tickets remain valid without surcharges under the new system[1].
- In Münster and Hamm, new flexible 90-minute tickets on chip cards are introduced to substitute the discontinued 4er-Ticket, adapting to a fully digital ticket environment[2].
- The WestfalenTarif is being made **more digital, simpler, and clearer**, with the promotion of digital tools like the VKU App and LuftlinienTarif eezy.nrw for cashless and more convenient travel[1].
- Physical ticket sales and validation on VKU buses will cease gradually starting September 2025, encouraging passengers to transition to digital applications[1].
In Münsterland, Ruhr-Lippe, Paderborn/Höxter, Westfalen-Süd, and Ostwestfalen-Lippe, the following **region-specific changes** will occur:
| Region | Specific Notes | |----------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Münsterland | Price increase + ticket digitalization; introduction of 90-minute chip card ticket | | Ruhr-Lippe | Same tariff rules and digital transition as rest of WestfalenTarif | | Paderborn/Höxter | Included in WestfalenTarif with same pricing and ticket changes | | Westfalen-Süd | Price adjusted ~5.1%-5.3%; personnel costs cited as relevant factor | | Ostwestfalen-Lippe | Included in general WestfalenTarif changes |
In Bad Lippspringe fare zone, the **1-Euro Ticket** is being introduced, making it the third region where passengers can travel by bus for just one euro for 90 minutes. The ticket is only valid within the respective city area.
Additionally, the single ticket online will be introduced throughout the Hochstift - a discounted ticket at the price of a 4-ticket validation in price stages 0H to 6H. The ticket is exclusively available online, for example, via the "fahr mit" app.
Ticket prices from 1 August 2025 can be found on the WestfalenTarif website: www.westfalentarif.de/prices.
[1] WestfalenTarif (2023). [Retrieved from www.westfalentarif.de](http://www.westfalentarif.de) [2] WestfalenTarif (2025). [Retrieved from www.westfalentarif.de](http://www.westfalentarif.de) [3] Westfalen-Süd (2025). [Retrieved from www.westfalentarif.de](http://www.westfalentarif.de)
The WestfalenTarif's digital transition in 2025 will affect all industries within the Westphalia region, as the elimination of paper tickets and shift towards digital ticketing will impact both the finance sector, concerning ticket sales, and the transportation industry, affecting ticket validation processes. Moreover, the price adjustments, particularly a general increase of about 5.29%, will influence the finance sector by changing ticket prices, which may affect the local economy and industries that rely on transportation services.
