Saxony wants to keep the price of the Deutschlandticket attractive

Saxony wants to ensure that the price of the Deutschlandticket remains attractive. According to Jens Jungmann, spokesman for the Saxon Ministry of Transport, the specific amount of the future price will depend on the financial development of both fare revenues and public subsidies. However, this would still require intensive discussions between the federal states and the federal government.

There have been discussions about the price of the Deutschlandticket for some time. The Thuringian Ministry of Transport, for example, has announced that if the federal government does not pay out promised funds, the price of 49 euros will have to be raised from October 1. It is still unclear whether the ticket would then have to cost 59, 64 or 69 euros.

A special conference of transport ministers is to be held on Monday. In a letter to Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (both FDP), the Chairman of the Conference of Transport Ministers, NRW State Minister Oliver Krischer (Greens), also warned against a significant price increase.

Funding commitment from Scholz

The federal and state governments each subsidize the offer with 1.5 billion euros per year. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) made a commitment to the federal states to finance the Deutschlandticket this year in a government consultation on Wednesday. As already agreed with the federal states in November, funds not used in 2023 are to be carried over to 2024. The necessary amendment to the Regionalization Act will come, said Scholz.

The fact that this step has not yet been taken poses major legal challenges for the Free State of Saxony and the municipal authorities, said Jungmann. However, it is expected that the Deutschlandticket will continue to exist nationwide. The relevant departments of the federal states are currently in intensive discussions.