The path for the 49-euro ticket is clear: the Federal Council approved the introduction on May 1st, although the federal states are demanding more far-reaching commitments from the federal government for financing. The preparations for the ticket are running nationwide, it should be sold from next Monday. The cross-party transport ministers of the federal states recognized the 49-euro ticket as an enormous step forward in transport and climate policy. Less than a year after last summer’s nine-euro ticket, it was possible to introduce a uniform nationwide ticket.
For financing, it is planned that the federal government will pay the federal states 1.5 billion euros annually from 2023 to 2025 to compensate for half of the loss of revenue at the transport companies. The other half is borne by the federal states. In the introductory year, the federal and state governments also share the possible costs, which exceed three billion euros.
However, there is still no regulation for the next two years. Only after an evaluation will a decision be made on further financing in 2025. The federal states, on the other hand, are calling for a regulation to be included in the law for permanent half-financing of the ticket by the federal government.
The 49-euro ticket, also known as the Germany ticket or D-ticket for short, is to be sold from April 3rd. It is available as a subscription that can be canceled on a monthly basis via the websites or apps of the transport associations, from the railways and in customer centers and is valid nationwide. Passengers receive it via a smartphone app or as a chip card, and for a transitional period also as a paper ticket.
“Kick-off Politics” is WELT’s daily news podcast. The most important topic analyzed by WELT editors and the dates of the day. Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, among others, or directly via RSS feed.
