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Germany’s 2026 Deutschlandticket Funding Plan Deemed Inadequate by Transport Sector

The planned €3 billion one-year extension for the Deutschlandticket appears insufficient to cover operator deficits, risking regional service cuts.

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Der Verband der Verkehrsunternehmen (VDV) hat den Finanzierungsplan für das Deutschlandticket kritisiert. "Für einen dauerhaften Erfolg des Deutschlandtickets bei den Fahrgästen und für die Branche" sei der Plan "unzureichend", erklärte der VDV.
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Overview

  • A draft amendment to the Regionalisierungsgesetz secures equal €1.5 billion contributions from the federal government and Länder for the ticket in 2026.
  • The Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen warns that maintaining the €3 billion annual subsidy without multi-year guarantees will leave a funding gap that must be closed this year to avoid cuts.
  • Bavaria’s transport minister Christian Bernreiter says the proposal fails to account for rising costs by limiting support to a single year without top-up obligations.
  • Transport companies report mounting deficits following the January fare increase, and industry groups warn that additional funding is needed to prevent service reductions.
  • The Union-SPD coalition contract guarantees price stability until at least 2029, but durable budgetary assurances for the ticket remain unresolved.