Germany’s federal transport minister, Patrick Schnieder (CDU), said he is open to adding a holder’s photo to the Deutschlandticket in order to increase safety on trains. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” on Tuesday, he explained that the federal states want to make the ticket more fraud‑proof, and that this will be a topic at the transport ministers’ conference in late March. Schnieder added that a passport‑style photograph could be considered as part of the discussions.
He noted that the design of the Deutschlandticket-and any potential harmonisation-must be decided by the states. In addition, he recalled that conversations with DB Regio’s works council and employees have shown how delicate identity checks on trains can be and how quickly conflict‑prone situations can arise.
