Overview
- The Verbraucherzentralen published their positions paper on Sunday, September 27, 2026, proposing a single national tariff that bills journeys by scheduled travel time and offers only five ticket durations.
- A commissioned modelling study provided example prices and said the scheme could be revenue-neutral, listing sample fares of €2.50 for 15 minutes, €3.50 for 30 minutes, €5.00 for 60 minutes, €6.50 for 120 minutes and €14.50 for 24 hours.
- Under the proposal, travel time would be measured from official timetables so passengers would not pay extra for delays or cancellations, and the system would work via both check‑in/out apps and traditional ticket machines.
- The plan is pitched as complementary to the Deutschlandticket — which has about 14.5 million users — but it arrives as regions face higher energy costs and an indexed 2027 price decision for the Deutschlandticket is imminent.
- Major hurdles remain before any rollout: federal, state and roughly 60 regional Verkehrsverbünde must agree on revenue sharing, technical integration and operational rules, and users could see simpler fares and fewer barriers to occasional trips if those issues are resolved.