Countries aim to start the 49-euro ticket on April 1st

Created: 11/29/2022, 7:49 p.m

A regional train of the Deutsche Bahn drives in the morning in the main station in Hanover.

© Michael Matthey/dpa/symbol image

The federal states are aiming to start the 49-euro ticket in local and regional traffic on April 1st.

This emerged on Tuesday from a decision paper from the conference of transport ministers, which is available to the German Press Agency.

At the same time, the federal states warn that open financing questions with the federal government about the Germany ticket must be clarified.

Berlin/Bremen - The conference of transport ministers expects the federal government to split any additional costs equally between the federal and state governments and to bear them together, the paper says.

The countries are ready for this half takeover.

Should additional costs exceed the three billion euros agreed annually, talks between the federal and state governments on their financing should be held "immediately".

Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing originally stated that the goal for the introduction of the ticket was early 2023.

The Association of German Transport Companies does not consider an introduction until May 1st to be realistic, as it said on Tuesday.

He had previously described March 1 as feasible.

The digital, nationwide valid ticket is intended for an introductory price of 49 euros per month in a monthly cancellable subscription - that has been decided in principle.

The ticket is the successor to the 9-euro ticket from the summer, which sold millions of times.

The VDV criticized that the federal and state governments had put a lid on the financing of the ticket.

There is no so-called obligation to make additional payments if the costs should rise - these remain with the companies in a situation that is already tense due to high energy costs.

dpa