Berlin: Public Transport Provider Discovers the 21st Century

Berlin, October 16th, 2026 (The Berlin Spectator) – The BVG, Berlin’s public transport provider, manages the city’s U-Bahn, trams, and bus lines, transporting approximately 1.1 billion passengers annually. To cover these costs, Berliners must purchase tickets in various forms, from monthly passes to the Deutschlandticket. Tickets can be bought at large stations or via digital platforms.

While the company’s app is relatively modern, traditional ticket machines are outdated, requiring users to insert coins and validate tickets upon entry.

The BVG plans to replace these old machines with new validators set to arrive by 2029. These new devices promise to be simpler, more uniform, and more intuitive, allowing passengers to pay with BVG cards, debit cards, credit cards, or smartphones. They will drastically reduce the time needed to obtain a ticket, making travel smoother for all.

BVG Sales Director Michael Beer emphasized that this technology, proven internationally, aims to simplify the ticket-buying process for Berlin residents and visitors alike, regardless of their mode of transport.

Currently, 50 percent of tickets are purchased through apps, while three out of four tickets at traditional machines are paid for by card, PayPal, or similar methods. Bus drivers sell an average of just three tickets per day. The new validators will enable passengers to choose between AB and ABC tickets, depending on whether they intend to travel within Berlin or beyond to neighboring Brandenburg.

For those heading to BER Airport in Schönefeld, the ABC ticket will be required. Once installed, printed tickets may become obsolete, as all ticket information will be stored in the cloud.