Politics · Germany · 6 hrs ago
German states delay proposal for a pay-per-use Deutschlandticket
Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia proposed a national pay-per-use public transport ticket for people who travel by bus and train only occasionally.
The plan would use a smartphone to record each trip and automatically charge the cheapest fare at the end of the month.
Monthly charges would be capped at the Deutschlandticket price, which will rise to €66.80 from €63 at the start of the year.
The ministers wanted to set up a working group to develop the system, using North Rhine-Westphalia’s eezy.nrw service as a model.
But state transport ministers removed the proposal from their agenda at a meeting in Hohenschwangau, saying it was submitted too late.
Some officials and the public transport industry raised concerns about costs, while social welfare groups have supported cheaper travel options.
North Rhine-Westphalia says it will seek to put the issue on the agenda of the ministers’ next meeting; a decision had been proposed for autumn 2027.
The transport ministers’ conference removed a proposal for a nationwide pay-per-use “Deutschlandticket light” from its agenda.
The proposal by Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia was set aside because it was submitted too late, according to reports from the conference.
The planned digital ticket would register journeys by smartphone and automatically charge the cheapest fare, capped at the monthly Deutschlandticket price.
North Rhine-Westphalia’s Oliver Krischer said the proposal should be discussed at the conference’s next meeting.
Bavaria and Germany’s public transport association opposed the plan, citing funding and costs.
- Who
- The transport ministers of Germany’s states considered a proposal from Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia.
- What
- They removed a proposed nationwide digital pay-per-use ticket from the conference agenda.
- When
- The decision was reported on October 21, 2026.
- Where
- At the transport ministers’ conference in Hohenschwangau, Bavaria.
- Why
- The application was said to have been submitted too late.
Supporters of the proposal
Opponents of the proposal
Funding and costs
Supporters of the proposal
Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia proposed a digital fare capped at the monthly Deutschlandticket price.
Opponents of the proposal
Bavaria’s transport minister and the public transport association said there was not enough money and the proposal would add costs.
Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia proposed a nationwide electronic occasional-travel fare and a working group to develop a plan.
The transport ministers’ conference removed the proposal from its agenda, with reports saying it had been submitted too late.
Krischer said the issue should be added to the agenda.
The proposal had called for a decision on the plan by this time.
- Proposal
- Nationwide electronic occasional-travel fare
- Proposing states
- Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia
- Conference location
- Hohenschwangau, Bavaria
- Deutschlandticket price
- €66.80 per month from the turn of the year, up from €63
- Proposed fare cap
- No more than the monthly Deutschlandticket price
- Proposed decision
- Autumn 2027
3 sources
What people are saying
Es ist bedauerlich, dass sich SPD und CDU den Diskussionen zu einem bundesweiten Gelegenheitstarif für den ÖPNV nicht stellen wollten. Das ist eine verpasste Chance für Digitalisierung, Kostensenkung und Komfort für die Fahrgäste.
Wer nur gelegentlich Bus und Bahn fährt, muss genauso unkompliziert und zu fairen Konditionen unterwegs sein können wie die Vielfahrer mit dem Deutschlandticket.
Uns fehlt an allen Ecken und Enden Geld. Es ist nicht die Zeit für immer noch mehr Leistungen.
Ein solches Angebot verursacht Kosten und rüttelt an der Logik des Deutschlandtickets, das als Deutschland-Flatrate im monatlich kündbaren Abo zum Erfolg geworden ist.