Free transit for residents. News. Germany’s first city is launching a free travel option that’s set to change how people get around. Starting November 2024, some residents can use the Deutschlandticket at no cost, encouraging more movement around the city and making it easier for people to explore. Just a few weeks into the program, interest has already gone beyond expectations, and the city is becoming a more popular spot for young people. What does this mean for students, and what are the city’s future plans? Here’s a look at this new initiative.
Hamburg Launches Free Public Transport Tickets
Since Germany launched the Deutschlandticket on January 1, 2023, it has become a popular regional transport pass, with around 13 million people currently using it. This ticket allows for affordable travel within German cities, especially for those who don’t mind longer travel times on regional trains instead of express options. Recently, Hamburg introduced a special offer with free Deutschlandtickets for students, drawing a high level of interest. Initially, 168,000 students were expected to apply, yet nearly 200,000 have already done so, with 94% of eligible students taking advantage of the program. Previously, many of these students held reduced-fare tickets for 19 euros a month.
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Low-Cost Ticket Price Increase Set for January 2025
The Hamburg Senate plans to extend the free Deutschlandticket for students into next year, which will entail additional costs as the city will need to reimburse transit operators. Starting in January 2025, the Deutschlandticket will see a price increase to 58 euros, reflecting an agreed 9-euro raise by Germany’s transport ministers. Oliver Krischer, head of the North Rhine-Westphalia transport department, emphasized that this price change is intended to sustain the ticket’s appeal and establish more secure funding. For students, however, the free ticket option will continue to be a valuable benefit, even with the general price increase.
The Deutschlandticket, though widely popular, has sparked ongoing debates around its funding. The discounted fare has led to income shortfalls for transit companies, prompting federal and state governments to partially offset these losses by increasing regionalization funds, which help support public transit across Germany.