Travel restrictions enforced: now only applicable for daily travelers
The Landticket, a popular nationwide public transport ticket in Germany, has been in use since May 2023, offering commuters, tourists, families, and students a convenient and affordable way to travel across the country. However, starting from 2026, changes to the Landticket are on the horizon, focusing mainly on regional adaptations rather than a fundamental overhaul of the ticket itself.
In the Berlin-Brandenburg region, a significant change is looming. Due to rising costs and a refusal to participate from the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB) and the states of Berlin and Brandenburg, Deutsche Bahn has terminated the contract for recognising the Landticket on certain routes. This means that from 2026, the special regulation allowing Landticket usage on IC and ICE connections will no longer apply in this region.
Despite this restriction, the Landticket remains a valuable option for many. It allows travel across the country with a single ticket, valid on buses, trams, U-Bahns, and local trains, but not on long-distance trains like ICE, IC, and EC, long-distance buses, or tourist transport like sightseeing buses. The ticket costs 58 euros per month and can be cancelled monthly, making it an affordable choice for many families seeking affordable outings during holidays to destinations like the sea.
However, no specific details about alternative tickets or transportation options following the Landticket's restrictions have been provided. Citizens will have to find alternatives again due to the Landticket's restrictions in the Berlin-Brandenburg region.
Across other regions of Germany, regional price and eligibility adaptations are expected. For instance, several German states have introduced or modified discounted Deutschlandticket versions for specific groups such as students, trainees, and young people, with prices adjusted around 38 to 39.42 Euros per month or annually (e.g., Bavaria, Saarland, Baden-Württemberg). Hamburg offers the ticket free for school students since September 2024, and other states continue with subsidized variants targeting youth or apprentices.
The pilot project for cross-border regional bus transport with the Deutschlandticket is set to run until May 31, 2026, indicating ongoing testing of extended usage. No comprehensive nationwide redesign of the Landticket itself is explicitly detailed or anticipated post-2025 in the available sources.
In conclusion, the Landticket, which replaced the "9-Euro-Ticket" introduced in summer 2022, continues to be a useful tool for many, but changes are coming in 2026. Citizens are advised to stay informed about the ongoing developments to make informed decisions about their travel plans.
- The forthcoming changes in the Landticket's policy and legislation have sparked a shift in the general news, focusing on the future of public-transit within Germany.
- Amidst the regional adaptations of the Landticket, some German states have devised alternate options for specific groups, such as students and trainees, offering discounted Deutschlandticket variants.
- Concurrently, the political scene features debates around the transportation industry's finance, considering the ongoing adjustments to tickets like the Landticket.
- Beyond the Berlin-Brandenburg region, citizens are encouraged to monitor the family-friendly public-transit choices as developments unfold, ensuring they continue making informed decisions regarding their travel and transportation needs.
