Bavaria Stands Firm: No Extra Pay for Germany Ticket in 2026
Bavaria remains steadfast on its promise not to increase ticket costs as compared to previous years. - Ticket price for Germany: Bayern Munich remains firm on no price increase
In a heated game of financial chess between the federal government and Bavaria, the state government refuses to shell out more cash for the Germany Ticket beyond what they've been contributing since its inception. Amidst a tight fiscal situation, Bavaria says it can't afford to chip in more than the current 1.5 billion euros annually to keep the ticket running.
The Bavarian Ministry of Transport has made it clear that the ball is in the federal government's court. State Secretary Christian Bernreiter of the CSU demands that the federal government present a draft bill to extend the ticket by the end of July. In a letter to the federal minister, Bernreiter insists, "Bavaria expects the federal government to provide a reliable financial basis for the continuation of the Germany Ticket."
The Germany Ticket, introduced by the previous federal government on May 1, 2023, was initially funded without a permanent financial plan. After two years of 49 euros monthly cards, the price rose to 58 euros this year. With the ticket causing massive revenue losses for transport companies, both the federal government and the states are covering the deficits with 1.5 billion euros each. This arrangement, however, expires at the end of the year.
The current economic downturn is taking a toll on tax revenues for both the federal government and the states and municipalities, making the future of the Germany Ticket uncertain. The coalition agreement between the Union and SPD notes the ticket's continuation after 2025, but the financing question remains unanswered, with only a vacancy on the federal government's website.
Bavaria, holding the chairmanship of the Transport Ministers' Conference, will convene for a one-day special meeting with Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) in Berlin on June 27. The stakes are high, and this meeting might just decide the fate of the Germany Ticket in 2026.
- Germany Ticket
- Bavaria
- Financing
- Transport Ministry
- Christian Bernreiter
- CSU
- CDU
- Transport Policy
- Although the specifics of the Germany Ticket financing for 2026 are uncertain, this issue is usually resolved through federal-state cooperation, where funding is allocated based on shared responsibilities and regional needs. In this case, it seems that Bavaria expects the federal government to ensure a reliable financial basis for the ticket's continuation.
- Despite the economic strains, Bavaria, as the current chair of the Transport Ministers' Conference, is anticipating federal-state cooperation to resolve the financing of the Germany Ticket in 2026, as the funding is typically determined based on shared responsibilities and regional needs.
- In the ongoing dispute, Bavaria's State Secretary Christian Bernreiter, representing the CSU, insists that a reliable financial basis for the continued operation of the Germany Ticket can only be achieved if the federal government presents a draft bill by the end of July, as stated in a recent letter to the federal minister.
