Regulation of Ticket Pricing in Germany to Take Effect in 2027
The future of the Germany ticket has received a significant boost, as the Transport Ministers' Conference in Munich has made a unanimous decision regarding its pricing mechanism. The decision comes after years of political price-finding and uncertainty, bringing clarity for users and transport companies alike.
The federal government and the states will jointly fund the Germany ticket, with the federal government providing 1.5 billion euros per year until 2030, and the states contributing an additional 1.5 billion euros annually. This commitment, despite tight budgets, ensures the ticket's permanence.
Stefan Schnorr, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport, described the day as positive, praising the collaborative effort towards securing the Germany ticket's future. Bavaria's Transport Minister, Christian Bernreiter (CSU), announced the increase in the ticket's price to 63 euros, effective from January 1, 2026.
To provide further clarity, a cost index mechanism will be developed by the federal states and completed by the next regular conference of transport ministers (VMK) in autumn 2025. This mechanism will focus on personnel and energy costs, as well as factors such as wage costs, to determine the Germany ticket's price from 2027 onwards.
The new pricing mechanism is expected to address the revenue losses that transport companies have experienced due to the previous, more expensive subscriptions of the Germany ticket. With this development, there will be no more uncertainty about financing for the Germany ticket.
The Transport Ministers' Conference's decision marks the end of the political price-finding process for the Germany ticket. The conference also emphasised the importance of providing clarity for users and transport companies, ensuring a stable and sustainable future for the Germany ticket.
