During the upcoming conference of regional transport ministers in the autumn, the ministers plan to introduce a nationwide travel offer designed for occasional bus and rail users. According to a policy draft reported by the “Rheinische Post”, this concept would function as a travel pass for occasional riders across Germany, similar in nature to the existing Deutschlandticket.
The proposed mechanism is a smartphone-based “In/Out Tariff,” where passengers check in and check out using their mobile phones. Nordrhein-Westfalen, which co-proposed the initiative with Hamburg, is tasked with developing the concept.
NRW Transport Minister Oliver Krischer (Green Party) confirmed the plan, stating that anyone who only uses public transport occasionally must be able to do so as simply and fairly as frequent travelers using the Deutschlandticket. He noted that his state has already demonstrated the concept with “eezy.nrw.” Krischer further explained that the digital tariff automatically selects the lowest price for each trip, and crucially, the monthly cost is capped, meaning it will never exceed the price of a Deutschlandticket.
The ministerial conference, which begins this Wednesday in Schwangau, Bavaria, has several other topics on its agenda, including reforms to route pricing and debates on securing higher funds for regionalization.
