€49 ticket leads to a surge in Deutsche Bahn passengers

The €49 ticket has proven to be a game-changer for Deutsche Bahn. According to DB Regio CEO Evelyn Palla, the number of passengers utilising Deutsche Bahn’s local transport services has increased by about a quarter since the introduction of the €49 “Deutschlandticket” in Germany on May 1. According to Palla, the number of passengers using DB’s regional services, which include the S-Bahn, increased by 25% in June compared to April.

The Deutschland ticket

• • Passengers on DB regional trains are travelling “significantly longer distances” since the introduction of the Deutschland ticket.
  • Excursion routes to the mountains and sea have been particularly popular during the holiday season.
  • In some areas, travel activity was comparable to the discounted €9 summer pass that was available from June to August of the previous year.
  • The Deutschland ticket has been in operation for just under three months, so a complete assessment of its impact is not yet possible.
  • There is still a strong demand for the ticket according to the unnamed speaker, suggesting its continued popularity.
  • Increased train occupancy in May and June compared to April is partially attributed to public holidays and vacation breaks.

• • Volker Wissing, Germany’s transport minister, believes the Deutschland ticket has been a “huge success.”
  • The ticket has led to a significant increase in the use of buses and trains, with nearly one million additional consumers within three months of its launch.
  • The Deutschland ticket allows unlimited travel on all local and regional modes of transport in Germany and parts of its bordering regions for €49 per month.
  • Special discounts are available for students, trainees, employees, and recipients of social benefits.
  • Wissing suggests that the more users there are, the more affordable the ticket can become, encouraging regular and frequent use of public transit.