After the Federal Council – Germany’s upper house of the German legislative – gave its final approval on 31 March 2023, sales could start today: The new ‘Deutschlandticket’ is coming!
The so-called ‘9-Euro-Ticket’ was successfully tested for three months last summer, and now the ‘Deutschlandticket’ is being offered at a price of 49 euros per month. It is valid from 1 May onwards. All public transport services as well as the second class of regional transport can be used nationwide with the new ticket – the often difficult search for the correct ticket for a ride in each of the many different city areas is no longer necessary. Long-distance trains such as IC, EC, ICE and private providers as well as all long-distance bus (Fernbus) connections are excluded. The ticket is only available as a digital subscription, but can be cancelled monthly. This idea behind is to attract new customers to “try it out”, especially at the beginning. For technical reasons, it will also be available as a paper ticket for the time being.
A driver towards further digitalization
In order to further promote digitalisation in Germany, sales will be carried out mainly online. Current users of season tickets will be offered the option to switch to the ‘Deutschlandticket’ by their respective transport company/transport authority, including refund options for advance payments.
The easiest way for new customers to order the ticket online is a download to their smartphone via the app of the respective public transport operator. There are several different App providers in the market – HanseCom, Netinera, ATRON and others.
It is also possible to order via various internet shops, and a chip card is then sent to the customer. The chipcard is also available at customer offices of local transport companies or Deutsche Bahn.
The tariff
At a price of 49 euros, the non-transferable ticket is much cheaper than the local public transport season tickets offered up to now in many places, which, however, often offer the possibility of taking other people, bicycles, etc. with them. It is without any doubt particularly attractive for commuters on longer journeys. Students will be able to purchase it by paying only the difference between the previous semester fee and the normal price of 49 euros. For Bahncard 100 customers of Deutsche Bahn, the introduction of the new ticket also includes the use of all public transport in Germany.
According to the current agreements, at least 1.5 billion euros will be made available by the federal and state governments to finance the offer – i.e. in particular the reduced revenue of the transport companies compared to the previous ticket range. The VDV (Verband deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen – German public transport operators association) expects around 5.6 million new customers for public transport as a result of the new offer; in addition, it is expected that up to 11 million existing public transport users will take advantage of the ‘Deutschlandticket’ as a new fare offer.
Further details are available here:
https://www.d-ticket.info/
