The German 49-euro ticket is increasingly proving to be a flop, as the Stendal district has now announced that from January 1, 2024, it can no longer be used for bus journeys within this region. 

In response to high inflation, the German federal government launched a network card last year at a price of nine euros per month. But this was only done in... June, July and August 2022 sold and was only valid in local transport. After a long struggle, the 49 euro ticket was introduced. However, this is anything but easy to handle because you have to take out a subscription, which can be canceled monthly. Some transport companies even carry out credit checks and completely exclude potential interested parties who have negative characteristics in databases such as Schufa. 

It was clear from the start that the 49-euro ticket was a typical German flaw. On the one hand, long-distance trains and long-distance buses are completely excluded and, on the other hand, the German federal government has not made any effort to provide long-term financing. The funds have only been made available for one year and transport associations as well as federal states and districts as well as entrepreneurs are complaining massively that the funds released by the federal government are not enough. But there shouldn't be any more money and given the fact that the Federal Republic is in a kind of defacto state bankruptcy, it is also very unlikely that the federal government will release more euros. Price increases were recently discussed, but the Greens are opposed to this, probably for ideological reasons. 

The Standal district in Saxony-Anhalt is now pulling the emergency brake and getting out of the so-called Germany ticket. At the end of last week, the district council decided that the 49 euro ticket would no longer be recognized on buses that operate in this district from January 1, 2024. Six lines in the city of Stendal and 35 others in the district are affected. The rail offers are not affected because they were ordered by the state of Saxony-Anhalt and not by the district. 

The regional politicians' argument is quite interesting because they justify the decision by saying that the costs for the district are far too high. Next year you would have to spend around 40.000 euros additionally for the first quarter. But the residents of the Standal district would have little of this.  

Leaving could make it easier for others to leave 

Some politicians now fear that the Stendal district's exit could be the beginning of the end of the nationwide local transport ticket for 49 euros. The background is that numerous other districts, transport associations and also federal states are demanding more money from the federal government and are not prepared to cover the additional costs themselves. It is demanded that the federal government should permanently and fully replace the shortfall in revenue that arises due to the public transport network card. However, due to the tense financial situation in the Federal Republic of Germany, it is questionable whether the necessary money can or will be raised. 

The Stendal case could be a reason for other regions to also say goodbye to the Germany ticket. This would be fatal for travelers, because not only are long-distance trains and long-distance buses excluded for fundamental reasons, but unless the ticket is completely taken off the market, you would then need some kind of map to ensure that the 49 euro ticket is actually valid is still recognized in order not to be asked to pay for fare evasion during an inspection. However, the German Infrastructure Ministry is combative: Stendal would be an isolated case and further resignations are not expected - at least at the moment.