German States Consider Public Transport Cuts Amid Financial Strains

Several German states are evaluating reductions in public transport services due to rising operational costs and insufficient funding.

Schleswig-Holstein has announced plans to cut regional train services during off-peak times and weekends starting December due to budget constraints.
Other states like Niedersachsen, Baden-Württemberg, and Nordrhein-Westfalen are also considering service reductions for the 2025 timetable.
The rising costs of personnel and materials, up by 13% and nearly 40% respectively since 2019, are outpacing available funding.
Despite increased federal funding, public transport operators argue that annual budget increases fall short of covering the actual cost escalations.
Passenger numbers have surged, partly due to the Germany-wide ticket initiative, pushing the public transport system to its capacity limits.