Deutschlandticket: Scholz pledges funding for countries this year
The Deutschlandticket will continue to cost 49 euros this year. This is based on statements made by the Federal Chancellor in the Bundestag.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the Bundestag on July 3, 2024.
(Image: Deutscher Bundestag)
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has promised the federal states that the Deutschlandticket will be financed this year. He called the Deutschlandticket a great achievement in a government questioning in the Bundestag on Wednesday. He could assure that the Federal Government – as discussed with the Minister Presidents – would create the financial framework to enable the Conference of Transport Ministers to make an independent decision on this. A necessary amendment to the Regionalization Act will be made.
The ticket, which has been available for 49 euros since May 2023, has massively promoted local public transport in Germany, said Scholz. It is an all-round successful project because it has also promoted modernization and digitalization. The ticket will hopefully remain in Germany for many years to come, "so of course there will always be different prices over the years".
"Technically not easy"
In a resolution passed by the conference of transport ministers of the federal states in April, it was stated that a transfer of funds not used in 2023 to 2024, agreed by Scholz and the federal states in November, was a mandatory prerequisite for the price of the Deutschlandticket to remain stable this year. To achieve this, the Regionalization Act must be amended. Scholz said on Wednesday that this would not be technically easy.
According to dpa, the Chairman of the Conference of Transport Ministers, NRW State Minister Oliver Krischer (Greens), called for the law to be amended quickly. Otherwise, the Deutschlandticket for local and regional transport could become significantly more expensive this year. There could be a special conference of transport ministers on Monday.
A good 11 million of the tickets were recently sold each month. The money from the federal and state governments is needed to compensate for the loss of revenue for transport companies due to the cheaper ticket compared to previous offers.
Lindner's doubts
The Green transport politician Nyke Slawik, who had questioned Scholz on the Deutschlandticket in the Bundestag, commented according to dpa: "We welcome the fact that the Federal Chancellor has promised that the price of the Deutschlandticket will remain stable this year and that the amendment to the Regionalization Act agreed with the federal states will be initiated. This means planning security for millions of people who use it every day." This is an important signal, especially in the current difficult budget situation.
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In her questioning of Scholz, Slawik referred to a statement made by Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP). He had questioned the price in an interview: "At some point, politicians will have to decide whether we want to invest more in rail or whether the price of 49 euros should remain." Scholz has now said that the Finance Minister agrees with the agreed plan for the Deutschlandticket.
Bavaria's Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU) commented on Scholz's statements: "We have heard announcements long enough now. It's time for action to follow." He had previously assumed that the Deutschlandticket could become 10 euros more expensive as early as the fall.
(anw)
