Overview
- An amendment to the Regionalisierungsgesetz locks in annual subsidies of €1.5 billion each from the federal government and the states through 2030 to cover operators’ shortfalls.
- The monthly pass will rise from €58 to €63 on 1 January 2026, with future annual adjustments from 2027 tied to a cost index covering wages, energy and track charges that is yet to be defined.
- The legislation extends the temporary €3 billion per year support provided in 2023–2025 into a multi‑year framework after operators warned prior funding was insufficient.
- Roughly 14 million people currently use the nationwide pass, which has been loss‑making for local transport providers because it undercut many previous regional commuter subscriptions.
- Opposition parties, consumer advocates and social groups criticize the higher price as burdensome for low‑income riders and press for a return to €49 or a nationwide social or trainee ticket.