Federal States Maintain Most Rail Services Despite D-Ticket

Despite additional costs for subsidies for the Germany ticket, the local and regional transport services are to be maintained in most federal states for the time being. This is the result of a nationwide survey by the German Press Agency. Schleswig-Holstein had announced cuts in June: Savings had to be made and regional rail transport could not be fully maintained from 2025 - two percent of rail transport services would be cut. The goal is to close the gap again in the coming years. 

Dispute Over Money Between Federal and State Governments

Elsewhere, it has not yet come to this - but the cost pressure is great: The dispute between the federal and state governments over how much each should contribute to the Germany ticket has been simmering for a long time. 

In Lower Saxony, the final word on the connections has not yet been spoken: Local transport there is divided among three transport associations. Two of them do not plan to reduce their services. One, the State Transport Company, is examining whether trips will have to be canceled from the end of 2025 due to a strained financial situation. The Ministry of Transport emphasizes that it does not want to cut connections.

Most countries are still sticking to the offer

The Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association (VBB) announced that it could not yet make a reliable prediction. States like Thuringia and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are also not planning any cutbacks so far but are raising alarms due to finances.

"The federal government must take responsibility for an efficient rail network even in tight budget situations. If travel, commuting, and freight transport become too expensive, it will not be possible to shift more traffic to the rail," said Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Minister of Economic Affairs, Reinhard Meyer.

Bavaria's Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter added: "No cuts in regional rail passenger transport are on the agenda in Bavaria yet, but we have to make enormous financial efforts and reallocations to achieve this."

If the federal government does not increase the funds, they will be forced to make cuts in the long run.

No acute cuts in NRW

In North Rhine-Westphalia, regional rail transport is secured until the end of 2025 due to financial commitments from the state government.

"There are currently no acute cancellations due to a lack of financial resources," emphasized a spokesperson for the three responsible associations. From 2026, however, the currently budgeted funds will by no means be sufficient - not even for the existing services. "Let alone the politically targeted expansion of the offer. Additional funds are urgently needed."

The role of the announced increase in track access charges is still unclear. The planned increase is still at a planning stage that requires both legal considerations and clarification at federal and European political levels.

"Until the matter is definitively clarified, we cannot participate in speculations about possible financial or operational impacts."

Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saxony-Anhalt are also not planning any cutbacks so far. The same applies to Hamburg, although it is indirectly affected by cutbacks in neighboring regions.