There is still a lot of potential in the country
Wissing: Deutschlandticket will remain
November 12, 2023, 8:33 a.m
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The Deutschlandticket is a success. Regardless of this, the federal and state governments are arguing about future financing. Federal Transport Minister Wissing is nevertheless optimistic and believes in the future of the ticket. However, there is skepticism among the three million students in Germany.
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing is convinced that the 49-euro ticket will prevail despite all the difficulties. “I am very sure that the Germany ticket will still be there in five years,” the FDP politician told the newspapers of the Funke media group. More than eleven million people have already used it. “In order to exploit its full potential, the countries must of course develop it further. This means that the offering must become larger and more digital,” said Wissing. There is a lot of untapped potential, especially in rural areas.
Wissing called on the states to keep the ticket cheap. They would have to work to keep the price as low as possible. Your task is to promote the Deutschlandticket vigorously in the introductory phase. “The more customers are acquired, the more attractive the price can be,” he said. “I would have liked the states to advertise the ticket more. Instead, some even create regional competing products such as the 29-euro ticket in Berlin. Others question the Germany ticket and constantly claim that the financing has not been clarified.”
The Federal Minister is not the only one calling for the ticket to be continued. The student unions at the universities are also putting pressure on the federal and state governments. “The Germany ticket could become a boomerang for the students of all people,” said the chairman of the board of the German Student Union, Matthias Anbuhl, to the newspapers of the Funke media group. Around three million students nationwide are affected.
It is regrettable that there was no decision on this at the recent meeting between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the state prime ministers. “Because there is still no nationwide solution for obtaining your semester tickets, they are now no longer available at many universities,” said Anbuhl.
In Berlin, for example, a quarter of the approximately 200,000 students can now only choose between no semester ticket at all or the Germany ticket for 49 euros a month, said Anbuhl. In the capital, the semester ticket currently costs 32 euros per month.