The Deutschlandticket - Statistics & facts
The first of May 2023 marked the start for Germany’s Deutschlandticket, a new public transport ticket valid for all local and regional public transportation across Germany. This includes regional trains, buses, light rail, and metro networks as well as some ferries. It excludes inter-city and high-speed rail, long-distance buses, and services that operate primarily touristic routes. By October 2023, nearly a third of adults in Germany had owned a Deutschlandticket at least for one month, since its launch.
The Deutschlandticket was introduced as the successor of the 9-Euro-Ticket that was available for three months in the summer of 2022. The 9-Euro-Ticket had been planned as a temporary intervention to ease the rising cost of living and was successful at driving down the cost of public transportation and contributed to slowing inflation during this period. It proved to be sufficiently popular to spark demand for a replacement product. The new ticket is aimed at providing a permanent replacement for the 9-Euro-Ticket, replicating its validity across all tariff zones and on all local and regional public transport at an attractive price.
Employers are also able to offer the Deutschlandticket as a subsidized Jobticket to their employees. The subsidy is mostly paid for by the employer, with a small contribution from the state. Several states and cities also offer subsidized tickets for specific groups including children, students, and people on low incomes. Four out of five Deutschlandticket holders, however, have the standard ticket.
Overall, the Deutschlandticket appears to have led to an increase in trips by public transport. Around 21 percent of trips made with a Deutschlandticket in July 2023, would have not been made by public transport without the new ticket. This figure includes around 12 percent of trips by Deutschlandticket, which would not have been made at all and trips that would have been made by car, bike, long-distance rail or other if the ticket was not available. However, the long-term effects of the Deutschlandticket on travel habits in Germany are yet to be seen and the price and convenience of the ticket has made it extremely popular among public transport users in Germany.
The Deutschlandticket was introduced as the successor of the 9-Euro-Ticket that was available for three months in the summer of 2022. The 9-Euro-Ticket had been planned as a temporary intervention to ease the rising cost of living and was successful at driving down the cost of public transportation and contributed to slowing inflation during this period. It proved to be sufficiently popular to spark demand for a replacement product. The new ticket is aimed at providing a permanent replacement for the 9-Euro-Ticket, replicating its validity across all tariff zones and on all local and regional public transport at an attractive price.
Lower prices for how long?
Priced at 49 euros per month, the Deutschlandticket is more expensive than its predecessor but is still a savings compared to many monthly public transport tickets that had been on offer. The price of the ticket had initially been fixed for a year and the moratorium on increasing the price has been extended until the end of 2024. The reduced cost of the ticket, however, is putting financial pressure on public transport associations, so the debate around financing and the cost of the ticket between transport associations, federal states and the federal government is expected to continue.Employers are also able to offer the Deutschlandticket as a subsidized Jobticket to their employees. The subsidy is mostly paid for by the employer, with a small contribution from the state. Several states and cities also offer subsidized tickets for specific groups including children, students, and people on low incomes. Four out of five Deutschlandticket holders, however, have the standard ticket.
Does cheaper public transport mean more sustainable transport?
Surveys of Deutschlandticket owners have shown that most holders were public transport users before the introduction of the new ticket. Around two in five, switched from an existing subscription for a monthly or yearly ticket to the Deutschlandticket. However, eight percent of ticket holders, were completely new to public transport use.Overall, the Deutschlandticket appears to have led to an increase in trips by public transport. Around 21 percent of trips made with a Deutschlandticket in July 2023, would have not been made by public transport without the new ticket. This figure includes around 12 percent of trips by Deutschlandticket, which would not have been made at all and trips that would have been made by car, bike, long-distance rail or other if the ticket was not available. However, the long-term effects of the Deutschlandticket on travel habits in Germany are yet to be seen and the price and convenience of the ticket has made it extremely popular among public transport users in Germany.
