Despite additional costs for subsidies for the Deutschlandticket, local and regional transport services are to be maintained for the time being in most federal states. This is the result of a nationwide survey by the German Press Agency.
Schleswig-Holstein announced cuts in June: Savings had to be made and local rail transport could not be fully maintained from 2025 onwards, it said – two percent of rail transport services would be cut. The aim is to close the gap again in the next few years.
Dispute over money between federal and state governments
Elsewhere, things have not yet gotten that far – but the cost pressure is great: the dispute between the federal and state governments over who should contribute how much for the Deutschlandticket has been simmering for a long time.
In Lower Saxony, the final word on connections has not yet been spoken: local transport there is run by three transport associations. Two of them are not planning to reduce services. One, the state local transport company, is examining whether trips will have to be cancelled from the end of 2025 due to a strained financial situation. The Ministry of Transport stresses that it does not want to cancel any connections.
Most countries are still sticking to the offer
The Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association (VBB) announced that it was not yet able to reliably predict this. States such as Thuringia and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are not planning any cuts either, but are raising the alarm about finances.
“The federal government must assume its responsibility for an efficient rail network even when the budget situation is strained. If travel, commuting and freight transport become too expensive, it will not be possible to shift more traffic to rail,” said Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Economics Minister Reinhard Meyer.
Bavaria’s Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter added: “There are no cuts in local rail passenger transport services on the agenda in Bavaria yet, but we have to make enormous financial adjustments and reallocations to achieve this.” If the federal government does not increase the funds, cuts will be forced in the long term.
There is no threat of acute cuts in NRW
In North Rhine-Westphalia, local rail transport is secured until the end of 2025 due to financial commitments from the state of NRW. “There is currently no threat of cancellations due to a lack of financial resources,” emphasises a spokesperson for the three responsible special purpose associations. From 2026 onwards, it currently looks as if the funds planned so far will no longer be sufficient – not even for the existing service. “Not to mention the politically envisaged expansion of the service. More funds are urgently needed here.”
It is still unclear what role the announced increase in track access charges will play. The planned increase is still at a planning stage that requires both legal consideration and clarification at the federal and European political level. “Until the matter has been finally clarified, we cannot participate in speculation about possible financial or operational effects.”
Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony-Anhalt are also not planning any cuts so far. The same applies to Hamburg, which is indirectly affected by cuts in its neighbours.
Ticket price will increase
The Deutschlandticket, which allows unlimited use of regional and local buses and trains nationwide, currently costs 49 euros per month. However, the state transport ministers have announced a price increase for the coming year.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240903-930-221265/2
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