Deutschlandticket: VDV demands financial security from the federal and state governments

Even after the resolution of the conference of the transport ministers, important questions regarding the future of the Germany Ticket remain unresolved from the perspective of public and private transport companies, commissioning authorities, and associations. The associations VDV, BSN, mofair, and bdo have issued a joint statement calling for financial planning security from the federal and state governments. The Germany Ticket was introduced by the federal and state governments in response to rising mobility costs as a relief measure for citizens and to strengthen public transport (ÖPNV) as a climate-friendly mobility guarantee for the people. Transport companies, associations, and commissioning authorities are responsible for the implementation of this ticket and initially enabled the 9-Euro ticket and subsequently the Germany Ticket in record time.

"We want to consolidate the cost relief for citizens associated with the ticket and the initial successes of the Germany Ticket in customer retention and traffic shift, and make it the starting point of a powerful and sustainable public transport system for everyone. This requires reliable framework conditions. These are particularly economically significant," explained the associations.

The revenues from the ticket foreseeable do not offset the deficits from the lack of previous ticket sales. 50% of the buyers previously purchased more profitable subscriptions, about 40% came from more expensive single tickets and time cards, and 10% are "genuine" new customers.

"Even after the meeting of the transport ministers' conference on October 11/12, 2024, there is still no financial planning security for transport companies, associations, and commissioning authorities," the associations further criticized.

Economic plans for personnel, vehicles, and all other costs, as well as the revenue side, remain uncertain. The shareholders of medium-sized, private, and municipal-state enterprises, as well as the guarantors of the associations, and the municipal and state commissioning authorities are thus fully at risk.

"We call on the Chancellor and the state premiers to end this uncertainty and this risk with a strong and unanimous resolution for the future of the Germany Ticket. A reliable financing of the ticket is needed for the entire year 2024 so that the industry can plan and, above all, strongly promote the ticket," the appeal said.

The Germany Ticket for students and the continuation of the ticket as a job ticket beyond 2024 are essential prerequisites for this.