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State by state: Who will get a discount on Germany’s €49 transport ticket?

Although the default ticket option will cost €49 for nationwide coverage on local and regional transport, some federal states are planning to offer discounted versions for people in certain groups. Here's what we know so far.

train passengers
Passengers wait for the train in Frankfurt. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Arne Dedert

After months of delays and negotiations between federal and state governments in Germany on the successor to last summer’s popular €9 ticket, sales for the €49 ticket are slated to start April 3rd, while finally coming into effect on May 1st.

The ticket is available as a subscription through Germany’s various regional public transport associations or through their apps. Travellers on higher speed Deutsche Bahn trains, such as the Inter-City Express, will still have to pay full price as normal.

But some groups, depending on the federal state, may be able to get the same – or similar – benefits for a reduced price. Here’s an overview:

Baden-Württemberg

The southwestern German state recently introduced its youth ticket, which gives people aged 21 or under unlimited travel within the state for just a €1 a day. That’s only about two-thirds the cost of the €49 Deutschlandticket. Although BaWü’s youth ticket doesn’t cover the entire country like the €49 ticket does, it may be more advantageous to young people who are mostly travelling within the state. Those in education or volunteer work can also use the ticket until they turn 27.

READ ALSO: Baden-Württemberg launches new budget transport ticket for young people

Bavaria

Germany’s alpine state is planning to start offering both students and apprentices based in the state a discounted version of the €49 Deutschlandticket from autumn. Bavaria’s version will cost students and apprentices €29 a month instead. Unlike Baden-Württemberg, whose youth ticket is roughly the same price but only covers travel within the state, Bavaria intends to give ticketholders all the benefits of the Deutschlandticket, so nationwide travel – for the discounted price.

The ticket will be a subscriber model, and holders can give one month’s notice if they wish to exit it. Plans are currently being drawn up to allow students to “upgrade” their tickets to the €29 model, if their normal local semester tickets cost less than €29 monthly. They can also keep the cheaper semester ticket if they like.

Berlin and Brandenburg

Having just had a repeat election in February, Berlin’s Social Democrats and Christian Democrats are currently negotiating a coalition deal to form a government in the capital. Plans are afoot in negotiations to continue a €29 monthly ticket within the inner-city area – or the “Berlin AB” zone, which would exclude Brandenburg. If that happens, subscribers would have the option to choose between the €29 Berlin-only ticket and the nationwide €49 ticket. This won’t be clear though, until the final coalition agreement is on the table.

Brandenburg isn’t planning any major changes, other than to allow riders to take their dogs on public transport on a €49 ticket at no extra charge.

Students sit in a lecture at Hanover University.

Many federal states are planning to offer discounted tickets to students that will be valid for public transport across Germany. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Julian Stratenschulte

Bremen

The city-state is currently discussing whether to bring in a €29 ticket for students and trainees. It’s not clear yet though, whether the ticket would be valid nationwide, as Bavaria’s model is planning – or just in Bremen. The city already has a €25 monthly ticket for those receiving citizen allowance. The Bremen government currently has no draft law to introduce such a ticket, and hasn’t committed definitively to it.

Hesse

In addition to rolling out the €49 ticket, Hesse is preparing a reduced ticket for statewide transport for people on benefits. Anyone receiving housing benefit, citizen allowance, or social assistance will be eligible for a reduced ticket for €31 a month, granting them access to all local and regional transport within Hesse. It would not, as with the €49, be valid nationwide.

Mecklenburg-West Pomerania

The state government in Schwerin has been working on a €365 per year “Seniors Ticket.” Costing less than two-thirds the price of the €49 ticket, it would be available to seniors living in the state but valid nationwide. The project has been hit by delays, however, and the state government has not given an updated estimate as to when the ticket will be rolled out.

Lower Saxony

The Hanover region is first rolling out a discounted version of the €49 ticket on May 1st. This one will cost €30 a month and be available to holders of a ticket with employer discounts or those on social assistance. But it will be valid nationwide. The state government also plans to introduce a discounted version of the nationwide Deutschlandticket in 2024 for students and trainees. It will be valid around the country, but only cost these groups based in the state €29 a month.

North-Rhine Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate

Germany’s most populous state will allow dogs to be taken onboard public transport using a €49 ticket at no extra charge. While both state governments are looking at discounted tickets for some groups, including students, neither has yet announced any concrete plans.

Saarland

Germany’s smallest state is picking up some of the tab for its young people’s Deutschlandtickets. All schoolchildren, students, trainees, and volunteers will be able to get the Junge-Leute or “young person” ticket – which will give them nationwide travel, just like the €49 ticket, for €30.40 per month.

Schleswig-Holstein

The northern German state is working on providing a student semester ticket that would be available nationwide but at a discounted price. It also wants to introduce a discounted price for people who do voluntary service. However, neither initiative has seen concrete plans announced.

Thuringia

The state government in Erfurt is currently discussing whether to have a €28 ticket for students and trainees in the state be valid nationwide. It has not, however, made a final decision.

Member comments

  1. Hi,

    Does anyone know what or if there will be a monthly ticket for bikes in the Lower Saxony region? I travel daily by bike which currently costs €5.30/day.

    Thanks

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STRIKES

IN PICTURES: German workers down tools in unprecedented strike action

In a rare show of combined force, Germany's service-sector union Verdi teamed up with rail sector union EVG in a nationwide day of industrial action on Monday. Here's how the morning unfolded.

IN PICTURES: German workers down tools in unprecedented strike action

Though strikes are far from uncommon in Germany, Monday’s ‘mega strike’ – which paralysed bus and train services across the country – was an extraordinary move on the part of two unions. 

It came after months of public-sector walk-outs that had affected everything from Kitas and hospitals in Berlin to administration and air traffic in Munich. However, until March 27th, most strikes had been taking place on a more scattered and localised level – and Deutsche Bahn had generally stayed in service amid multiple local transport strikes.

This time around a coordinated effort between services union Verdi and rail union EVG means that both Deutsche Bahn and local transport are disrupted across the nation.

Pictures emerged early on Monday morning of train stations standing eerily empty ahead of the strike.

Halle Hauptbahnhof

An empty platform at Halle Hauptbahnhof. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Hendrik Schmidt

Almost all long-distance and local train services were out of action on Monday thanks to the Deutsche Bahn walk-out, leading to extraordinary scenes like this one at Mainz Hauptbahnhof – a station that normally caters to around 60,000 passengers each day.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: What to expect during Monday’s ‘mega strike’ in Germany

Mainz station during strike

Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jörg Halisch

However, some people pointed out that the communication from Germany’s state-owned rail operator wasn’t quite as clear as it could have been.

Tweeting from Berlin’s famous Zoologischer Garten station, journalist Jörn Hasselmann noticed misleading info on trains that weren’t supposed to be running.

“The @DB_Bahn manages to cause confusion even when there are no trains,” he wrote. “Apparently it is not that easy to switch off ALL the monitors.”

Aside from Deutsche Bahn services, a number of workers from regional transport operators also took part in the ‘mega strike’ on Monday.

These included workers from Transdev, AKN, Osthannoversche Eisenbahnen, erixx, vlexx, eurobahn, and the Länderbahn – meaning that local U-Bahn, bus and tram services in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saxony were all affected.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: How to get compensation for delayed or cancelled trains in Germany

In Cologne, which has been wracked by industrial action in recent weeks, commuters were once again left short of options. 

Cologne local transport during strikes

Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Roberto Pfeil

And it wasn’t just people taking short-haul journeys that faced headaches on Monday morning: aviation workers were also taking part in Monday’s strike, leading to flight cancellations across the board.

A passenger checks the departures board at Munich Airport on Monday

A passenger checks the departures board at Munich Airport on Monday. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Angelika Warmuth

With passengers warned to stay away and rebook their flights, most airports remained all but empty on Monday.

A cleaner at Düsseldorf Airport on Monday.

A cleaner at Düsseldorf Airport on Monday. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Reichwein

READ ALSO: What are your rights in Germany if a flight is delayed or cancelled?

The major day of action was timed to coincide with the start of three-day negotiations between the services union Verdi and government employers over public-sector pay.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) was among the senior ministers taking part in the talks, which are aimed at resolving a fierce dispute over wages.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser Verdi

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) arrives at negotiations in Potsdam. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Carsten Koall

Shortly before the negotiations kicked off, Verdi tweeted images of demos taking place outside of Potsdam’s Congress Hotel.

One protester held a sign saying: “Soon to be working 24/7 – still can’t afford my rent”.

Verdi is negotiating on behalf of some 2.5 million public sector workers, including those in childcare, health, transport and local administration.

To help cope with inflation, the union is demanding 10.5 percent more pay or a minimum of €500 extra per month for workers. 

Workers Verdi strike Potsdam

Workers from various sectors gather at a demo outside the Congress Hotel in Potsdam. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Carsten Koall

Police workers strike Monday

Police bang a drum outside the Congress Hotel on Monday as part of a demonstration for higher wages. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Carsten Koall

Social media was filled with messages of solidarity and support, with one commenter posting a graph depicting the real-term cut in pay that workers have suffered over the previous two years.

There were also demonstrations by rail union EVG members at train stations across the country.

EVG strike demo Duisburg

Demonstrators from the EVG rail union gather in front of Duisburg Hauptbahnhof on Monday. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Reichwein

EVG is demanding a 12 percent pay rise for its workers to compensate for the spiralling cost of living.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Why are there so many strikes in Germany right now?

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