Public transportation in Germany
After the “economic miracle” in the second half of the 20th century, Germany has become a global powerhouse in different segments, including in the transport sector. A robust public transport system has supported the economic development of the country. Approximately 85.7 percent of the population in Germany had good access to public transport in 2022. In the country’s capital Berlin as much as 99.4 percent of the population was rated to have good access to public transport.
In 2022, the number of passengers traveling on German regular short-distance transit amounted to 10 billion, a rate of 87 percent of pre-pandemic levels when the transit ridership almost reached 11.5 billion passengers. The local bus services were Germany's most used public transport mode in 2022, with a ridership of nearly 4.8 billion passengers.
As Germany's second-largest city, the port city of Hamburg boasts an extensive urban transport network consisting of buses, subways, commuter trains, and ferry lines. Hamburg’s public transport ridership amounted to 685 million passengers served in 2022. Public transport passengers in Hamburg were also some the largest beneficiaries of the introduction of the Deutschlandticket. The monthly ticket, which is priced at 49 euros, was introduced in May of 2023 and allows access to all local and regional public transport across Germany. The price decrease for a monthly public transport ticket in Hamburg was the steepest in Germany, with prices falling by nearly 45 euros compared to the cost of a monthly ticket for the local area in 2022. Passengers in Cologne and Bonn saw nearly the same level of cost savings compared to the previous year.
Nonetheless, German cities are aiming to reduce the climate impact of their public transport network. The number of buses with alternative drives has seen substantial growth rates over the past year. Between 2020 and 2022 the number of hybrid buses in Germany more than tripled and electric bus numbers have grown by over 230 percent in the same period. Electrification in the rail sector has also been on a slight upward trend. The share of electrified rail lines in Germany reached 53.3 percent in 2020.
In 2022, the number of passengers traveling on German regular short-distance transit amounted to 10 billion, a rate of 87 percent of pre-pandemic levels when the transit ridership almost reached 11.5 billion passengers. The local bus services were Germany's most used public transport mode in 2022, with a ridership of nearly 4.8 billion passengers.
Passengers return to public transport
Berlin is the most populous city in Germany and in 2022 its urban transit network transported nearly 1.4 billion passengers. The primary transit operator in Berlin is the BVG (Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe), which manages an underground network (U-Bahn), tram, bus lines, and a ferry service. In 2022, the BVG reported revenues of 1.3 billion euros, a slight increase and continued recovery from the drop in 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.As Germany's second-largest city, the port city of Hamburg boasts an extensive urban transport network consisting of buses, subways, commuter trains, and ferry lines. Hamburg’s public transport ridership amounted to 685 million passengers served in 2022. Public transport passengers in Hamburg were also some the largest beneficiaries of the introduction of the Deutschlandticket. The monthly ticket, which is priced at 49 euros, was introduced in May of 2023 and allows access to all local and regional public transport across Germany. The price decrease for a monthly public transport ticket in Hamburg was the steepest in Germany, with prices falling by nearly 45 euros compared to the cost of a monthly ticket for the local area in 2022. Passengers in Cologne and Bonn saw nearly the same level of cost savings compared to the previous year.
Public transport going increasingly electric
The transportation sector is one of the principal contributors to Germany´s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2022, the sector was responsible for around 20 percent of the country’s total GHG emissions. Regarding emissions intensity, domestic flights are the mode of transport in Germany with the highest GHG emissions per passenger kilometer (PKM), followed by private passenger cars. Domestic aviation emitted 284 grams of GHGs per PKM in 2020. Public transport solutions report significantly better intensity rates compared to other modes, making it a more sustainable option for passenger transport. For example, in 2022, German tram and subway networks led to 80 grams of GHGs per PKM, more than three times less than inland flights and half as emission intensive as private cars.Nonetheless, German cities are aiming to reduce the climate impact of their public transport network. The number of buses with alternative drives has seen substantial growth rates over the past year. Between 2020 and 2022 the number of hybrid buses in Germany more than tripled and electric bus numbers have grown by over 230 percent in the same period. Electrification in the rail sector has also been on a slight upward trend. The share of electrified rail lines in Germany reached 53.3 percent in 2020.
