Once again there is uncertainty about the Deutschlandticket: How will it be financed next year - and how permanently?

Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder advocates for a fixed pricing mechanism for the Deutschlandticket. "That would be very desirable," the CDU politician told the German Press Agency in Berlin. "Our goal is to continue the Deutschlandticket and also find a permanent mechanism for how the price will develop in the future. I can't say whether we'll achieve that for next year, but that's our goal."

A special conference of state transport ministers is planned for Friday in Berlin, which Schnieder will also attend. The meeting will address how the nationwide Deutschlandticket for local public transport, currently priced at €58 per month, will be financed next year.

The federal and state governments currently each contribute €1.5 billion per year to finance the ticket to offset revenue losses for transport companies. Most standard commuter passes were previously significantly more expensive. The funding is enshrined in the Regionalization Act – but only for 2025. From the perspective of the transport industry, €3 billion is not sufficient to finance the ticket in the long term. In a dpa survey, state representatives called for the federal government to contribute more to the ticket costs than before starting in 2026. However, there is no unified position among the states.

"There are more than 13 million users in Germany – that's quite a number," said Schnieder. "There are a number of users who are saving money this way. But when I look at how many have switched from cars to public transport, it could well be even more. Of course, you have to realize that this service costs the state a lot overall." That, too, is part of an honest assessment.

The states and federal government must also be able to afford it. "Budgets are under enormous pressure. We really need to get to the point where an offer like the Deutschlandticket is so attractive that it can pay for itself."

Local public transport is primarily a matter for the states. "We provide money for it through regionalization funds," Schnieder said. "We also have a mechanism for increasing the funds. We'll discuss this in more detail, but for now, I see it as separate from the direct issue of how we make the Deutschlandticket secure."

In their coalition agreement, the CDU, CSU, and SPD have committed to continuing the Deutschlandticket beyond 2025. However, users will have to expect significantly higher prices starting in 2029.