The facts
Germany's nationwide Deutschlandticket will increase in price to €66.80 per month from January 1, 2027, up from the current €63. This adjustment is the first to be determined by a new cost-based formula, rather than political negotiations between federal and state governments. The €3.80 increase is attributed to rising personnel, energy, and other operating costs, as stated by Bavaria's Transport Ministry, which currently chairs the conference of Germany's state transport ministers. The new formula also considers that federal and state subsidies remain fixed at a combined €3 billion annually. Consequently, the discounted job ticket will rise to €63.46, and the student semester ticket will cost €40.08. Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger commented that the ticket remains "a very attractive offer" despite the price increase. The Deutschlandticket, which covers local and regional public transport across Germany, is currently used by around 14.5 million people. Since its launch in 2023 at €49 per month, the ticket will have become approximately 36% more expensive with the upcoming price change. North Rhine-Westphalia Transport Minister Oliver Krischer expressed criticism of the increase, noting a federal government promise of price stability.
Our take
Oh, fantastic. The Deutschlandticket, Germany's great public transport hope, is getting its price cranked up to €66.80 a month. Because €63 was just too fucking cheap for the privilege of riding a bus that might show up. This isn't a price adjustment; it's a state-sanctioned mugging dressed up with a 'new cost-based formula.' What a load of sanctimonious, bureaucratic horseshit. They've replaced political negotiations - which at least had the decency to be transparently political - with a 'formula' that magically spits out a higher number. What's the formula, you ask? It's probably 'Current Price' plus 'Because We Can' multiplied by 'Fuck You.'
They blame 'rising operational expenses' like personnel and energy. No shit, Sherlock. Everything costs more. But here's the kicker: the federal and state subsidies are locked in at a cozy €3 billion a year. So instead of, I don't know, maybe finding some other fucking budget line to raid or questioning why a train system needs so many vice-presidents of synergy, they just pass the entire bill directly to the 14.5 million suckers who rely on this service. That's not a formula; that's cowardice. That's a room full of dickheads in suits deciding that the easiest way to balance their books is to pick the pockets of students and commuters.
And then we have Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger, the absolute cunt, calling this a 'very attractive offer.' Attractive to whom? To his fucking accountant? The ticket has gone from €49 to €66.80 since 2023. That's a 36% increase. You know what else has increased by 36%? The size of the bullshit coming from this minister's mouth. A 'very attractive offer' is a €49 ticket that stays €49, not this slow-motion robbery where they nickel-and-dime you an extra €17.80 over four years while pretending it's all very scientific.
Even the discounted versions are a joke. The job ticket will be €63.46. Wow, a whole €3.34 discount for being a wage slave! And students get to pay €40.08 for their semester ticket. That's the sound of an entire generation's future being pissed away on incremental transit fees before they even get their first underpaid job.
Oliver Krischer, a state transport minister, had the balls to point out there was a promise of price stability. No fucking kidding. But promises in government are like toilet paper: single-use and full of shit. The whole scheme is a masterpiece of vanity, where politicians get to launch a 'revolutionary' €49 ticket, take the credit, and then quietly strangle it with a thousand tiny price hikes, blaming 'formulas' and 'costs' while their subsidies remain untouched. It's a con. A slow, grinding, bureaucratic con where the mark is anyone who needs to get to work.
