Before the introduction of the Deutschlandticket in spring, transport associations will once again increase their ticket prices.

Depending on the region, they increase between 1.4 percent and 8.8 percent, according to an evaluation by the dpa news agency.

She analyzed the price measures of almost a dozen large transport associations.

The Rhein-Neckar transport association, which covers parts of Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg, was at the forefront of the price increases.

Single tickets then cost up to 1.10 euros more.

Corinna Budras

Business correspondent in Berlin.

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Most associations justify the measures with the significantly increased energy costs.

However, some also refer to the uncertain income situation that transport companies face because of the new Germany ticket, although the federal and state governments have promised to compensate for the loss of income with 3 billion euros and also to settle additional costs together.

At 49 euros per month, it is significantly cheaper than the average subscription price.

Single tickets, day or week tickets remain unaffected by the Deutschlandticket.

These will continue to vary from region to region.

Price increases with announcement

The Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV) in Hesse and the Verkehrsverbund Bremen/Niedersachsen (VBN) are increasing their prices by around 1.5 percent.

The Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB) will also increase its prices by 5.6 percent, but only on April 1st.

Interesting: The capital has already pushed ahead with its own 29-euro ticket and has thus once again significantly undercut the price of the Germany ticket of 49 euros a month.

The ticket is intended as a transition until the nationwide public transport ticket is introduced.

These transport associations are thus following the price increases that other transport associations have already implemented directly after the 9-euro ticket.

However, the price increases came with announcement.

Even before the introduction, the transport companies warned of the rising energy and personnel costs and demanded compensation from the federal and state governments.

The positive effects that the 9-euro ticket had on passenger numbers have also vanished.

After the two Corona years 2020 and 2021, in which the number of passengers slumped drastically, many people decided to use public transport again in the summer months between June and the end of August because of the cheap ticket, according to an analysis by the Federal Office for Goods Transport.

Rail transport in particular has benefited, i.e. S-Bahn and regional transport.

In these three months it experienced “a sharp increase” by a total of 29 percent compared to the pre-crisis year 2019, which is used as a reference.

However, when the rebate ended, the numbers fell back to previous levels.

For the year as a whole, the Federal Office estimates the drop in passenger numbers at 15 percent.