Berlin pushes fully digital public‑transport tickets, warns of empty‑phone fare checks

Berlin's public‑transport operators are accelerating a shift to fully digital ticketing. The Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) and Deutsche Bahn now sell tickets and the Deutschlandticket primarily via mobile apps. Passengers whose phone batteries die during a ticket inspection are treated as fare evaders; the BVG can impose a €60 penalty and, in rare cases, initiate legal action. As Christian Linow of the passenger association IGEB notes, “Passengers with an empty phone battery at a control are not uncommon.” Riders can appeal by providing purchase proof such as a receipt or app transaction history.

The city plans to replace ticket‑machine sales with card‑or‑phone validators, allowing fare payment through smartphones or credit cards. Senator for Mobility Ute Bonde (CDU) said, “In a few years Berlin will have no ticket machines.” The move aims to reduce maintenance costs and speed up boarding, but critics warn it could marginalise people without smartphones, credit cards, or reliable internet access, raising concerns about digital exclusion.