The Berlin state government has announced the introduction of a 29-euro ticket for public transportation starting in early July. However, this move has faced criticism from the Federal Ministry of Transport and from the state of Bavaria. They argue that these regional competing products undermine the goals of the nationwide Germany ticket. Bavaria’s Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter expressed his concerns, stating that maintaining a similar offer in Bavaria would require significant funding from the state, while Berlin is essentially funding a universal discount for all passengers using Bavarian funds, which is unsustainable. There are calls for a reevaluation of the inter-state financial equalization system due to this discrepancy.
The Germany ticket, priced at 49 euros per month and valid since May 1, 2023, can be used nationwide for local and regional transportation. In addition to this, Berlin is planning to introduce a 29 euro ticket that will only be valid within the city limits. The Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and the government’s rail commissioner, Michael Theurer (FDP), also raised concerns about the introduction of regional competing products like the Berlin 29-euro ticket, which could undermine the simplification of tariff systems and streamlining of structures within transportation networks. Green party politician Stefan Gelbhaar expressed fears that the increased use of private vehicles, especially around the city outskirts, due to the new ticket offerings could lead to more traffic congestion and discomfort for residents.
The transport spokesperson for the Green Party in the Bundestag, Thomas Bareiß, criticized the actions of the Berlin Senate, stating that the dream of a nationally unified public transport ticket proposed by Minister Wissing had been shattered within weeks. The 49-euro ticket has become a financial nightmare for taxpayers, as neither the federal government nor the states were willing to cover the additional costs of over three billion euros. Despite these criticisms, the 29-euro ticket in Berlin is set to become active on July 1st, with pre-sales starting the following Tuesday. The ticket is only available as part of an annual subscription and is valid within the city boundaries.
The decision to introduce a discounted public transportation ticket parallel to the nationwide Germany ticket had been a topic of debate for some time, with the Berlin SPD promoting it during the election campaign before the repeat of the 2023 State Parliament election. The transport ministers of the states came together in Münster for a two-day meeting on Wednesday to discuss various topics, including the funding of public transportation and the future of the Germany ticket. Despite concerns and criticisms from various stakeholders, the Berlin State government remains steadfast in its plan to implement the 29-euro ticket, highlighting the ongoing challenges and disagreements within the German public transportation system.
