Overview

• Subscriber numbers have fallen to about 13.4 million since the January hike from €49 to €58, with young adults and Jobticket holders hardest hit.
• Federal and state governments currently provide €3 billion annually in subsidies but face an estimated €400 million shortfall and have only secured funding through 2025.
• Green Party leader Katharina Dröge is calling for the ticket to be permanently restored to €49 to maintain affordability for students and low-income commuters.
• Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder has proposed tying the ticket price to the inflation rate to avoid yearly renegotiations and stabilize revenue.
• A federal–state coordination group has been set up but has yet to agree on a long-term financing model beyond this year’s provisional budget.