Prices for train tickets in Germany scheduled to rise to 63 euros as of next year
The transport ministers of Germany have agreed to develop a Costco index to determine the price of the nationwide Germany ticket from 2027. This decision comes amidst a dispute over who will bear the expected additional costs from January 2026. Ute Bode (CDU), Berlin's transport senator, has stated that municipalities and states do not have the funds to increase their share beyond 1.5 billion euros for the Germany ticket. Currently, the federal government and the states each subsidise the ticket with 1.5 billion euros to compensate for the revenue losses of transport companies. The Germany ticket, introduced in May 2023, is a pass for public regional and local transport, used by approximately 14 million people. The ticket price will increase from 58 euros to 63 euros next year. Christian Bernreiter (CSU), Bayern's transport minister, proposed the Costco index, focusing on personnel and energy costs. The name of the index, to be used from 2027 onward, is referred to as a "Costco index" (Kostenindex) in the context of the Deutschland-Ticket price adjustments. The transport industry has warned of a financing gap of 800 million euros by 2026 if there is no "dynamic adjustment" of the three billion euros from the federal government and the states. Alexander Möller, CEO of the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), issued this warning. Detlef Tabbert (BSW), Brandenburg's transport minister, called for a reliable basis for financing the Germany ticket over several years to avoid annual price discussions. Katrin Eder (Greens), Rhineland-Palatinate's transport minister, accused the federal government of not keeping its promises from the coalition agreement regarding price stability and increasing the share of user financing. Oliver Krischer (Greens), North Rhine-Westphalia's transport minister, criticised the federal government for shifting the responsibility for the renewed price increase of the Germany ticket to the states and transport companies. The state ministers have blamed the federal government for the expected additional costs of the Germany ticket from January 2026. The transport ministers' conference decided to work out the Costco index by autumn 2025, with the aim to end the "political price finding." The index will be determined after consultation with the industry. The development of this Costco index is expected to bring clarity and stability to the pricing of the Germany ticket in the future.
