A good 100 days after the introduction of the Deutschlandticket, a dispute between the federal and state governments over the financing of the 49-euro offer is smoldering again. According to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, the states see the federal government as having a long-term obligation. “The federal government and above all Federal Transport Minister Wissing must now finally commit to the project they initiated themselves and also take over half the costs of the Germany ticket in the coming years,” said Baden-Württemberg’s Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Greens) of the newspaper.
After months of dispute, the federal and state governments agreed on the financing for this year at the end of March. They each want to bear half of the costs. From 2023 to 2025, 1.5 billion euros will come from the federal government. The countries want to raise just as much. Possible additional costs should also be shared equally in the first year. How the financing will continue in the long term has yet to be clarified.
“The future of Germany tickets is uncertain”
The struggle is now over the distribution of the additional costs in the following years. The fronts are hardened, according to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, with reference to government circles. Without an agreement on open financial issues for the period after 2023, “the federal states see the continuation of the Deutschlandticket or at least its widespread application as seriously endangered,” the newspaper quoted North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister of Transport, Oliver Krischer (Greens), from a letter to Wissing from Ende July. Krischer is chairman of the conference of state transport ministers.
“The future of the Germany ticket is uncertain because the transport companies and associations do not know whether its funding will continue next year,” said the Vice President of the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), Werner Overkamp, the newspaper. A spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Transport referred to the tight budget situation. The “necessary prioritization of the use of funds” is made more difficult. However, the ministry is in close contact with the countries and the industry to clarify further details.
The Deutschlandticket for 49 euros a month has been available since May 1 – as a digitally bookable, monthly terminable subscription that is valid for local transport throughout Germany. Around eleven million people already have the ticket as a subscription.
With information from Hans-Joachim Vieweger, ARD capital studio
