Increased Costs for Bus and Train Journeys in Berlin and Brandenburg
The Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB) has announced a 6% increase in public transport fares for both Berlin and Brandenburg, effective from January. This decision comes amidst rising costs for electricity, fuel, and lubricants.
The single journey ticket for the tariff area ABC, which includes Potsdam and Berlin Brandenburg Airport, will increase by 30 cents to 5.00 euros. An AB short trip within Berlin will see an increase of 20 cents, bringing the price to 2.80 euros. In the cities of Brandenburg an der Havel, Frankfurt (Oder), and Cottbus, single tickets will rise by 20 cents to 2.70 euros.
This year, the VBB increased fares by 7.5 percent. Since 2016, single tickets have doubled in price. The four-journey ticket for the Berlin tariff area AB will cost 12.40 euros, an increase of 80 cents. The VBB environmental ticket for the Berlin tariff area AB will also increase, rising to 81.30 euros per month from the current 76.70 euros.
In an effort to simplify the tariff structure, the VBB is removing several tariffs due to low demand. These include the VBB 65Plus subscription for seniors, 7-day cards, annual cards, the 10 a.m. card in Berlin, and the 9 a.m. cards in Potsdam, Brandenburg an der Havel, and Frankfurt (Oder).
The Germany ticket, which allows travel across the country, is likely to play a role in the price increase, as it has led to a decrease in revenue for transport companies and associations nationwide. In contrast, the cost of a single ride in cities like Rome remains at 1.50 euros, while in Barcelona, it's 2.65 euros, and in Paris, it's 2.50 euros. In London, a single journey on the Underground starts at 2.90 euros, and in Vienna, public transport will cost 3.20 euros (or 3.00 euros online) from January 1st.
In Hamburg, a single ticket currently costs 3.90 euros (with a 7% discount for online purchases). For 2023, ticket prices for single journeys in Hamburg, Cologne, and Munich vary by availability and class, with standard fares starting from about €24.99 in 2nd class and €35.99 in 1st class, and discounted Super Sparpreis tickets from €17.99 in 2nd class and €27.99 in 1st class; short-distance tickets in 2nd class can be as low as €6.99 depending on availability.
VBB CEO Christoph Heuing stated that there have been too many new tariffs in recent years, leading to confusion, and the association is moving towards fewer tariffs. Heuing emphasised the need for a simplified fare structure to better serve the public.
The inflation rate for passenger transport by road was almost 35% between the end of 2015 and August 2025. With these fare increases, the VBB aims to maintain the quality of service while navigating the challenging economic landscape.
