Nahverkehr: Statt Tarifdschungel: Fahrscheine für 15 oder 60 Minuten?

Verbraucherzentralen in Deutschland want a simple ticket system for occasional bus and train users. They propose a tariff model based on time spent on the journey, rather than zones or zones. Their ideal is five ticket types - 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 120 minutes and 24 hours - that would be intuitive and easy to understand.

The primary goal is to make public transport more accessible for those who only use it occasionally, and are not willing to commit to a monthly pass. The Deutschlandticket, introduced in 2023, has 14.5 million customers and allows unlimited travel in buses and trains across Germany, regardless of tariff rules. It is a monthly pass that costs 63 euros per month.

In 2027, the price will be recalculated based on a new index that includes labor, energy, and other costs. The Verbraucherzentralen warn against further significant price increases, as fuel prices have risen due to the Iran war. The current price hike has also affected public transport companies. The Deutschlandticket is a model for the Verbraucherzentralen's proposal, but not for a minimum of one month.

The five ticket stages from 15 minutes to 24 hours provide sufficient differentiation for different mobility needs, as the journey time is usually known, unlike the distance or number of tariff zones crossed. Previews for the five ticket types could cost 2.50 euros for 15 minutes, 3.50 euros for 30 minutes, 5.00 euros for 60 minutes, 6.50 euros for 120 minutes and 14.50 euros for 24 hours.

Discounts could be half the price, and the journey time would be calculated based on the timetable, so customers would not pay more in case of delays or cancellations. Flexible digital payment methods, already used in some regions, could also be used, where customers can check in and out via an app, and the cheapest fare would be automatically calculated.