North Rhine-Westphalia wants to negotiate joint financing by the federal government and the states for the next ten years if possible. The aim is for the federal government and the states to continue to cover half of the state subsidy for the ticket.
NRW Transport Minister Oliver Krischer also warns that the three billion euros from the state may not be enough to maintain the current price of 49 euros per month. There is a risk of "significant price dynamics" with the result that the German ticket will have to be offered at "prices that do not meet demand," says Krischer. The Deutschlandticket for 49 euros per month can be used nationwide on local and regional transport since May 1, 2023. A good eleven million tickets were recently sold every month. The money is needed to compensate for loss of income for transport companies due to cheaper tickets compared to previous offers. According to the Regionalization Act, the federal government will pay 1.5 billion euros a year until 2025 - as will the states.