German track fee hike endangers affordable Deutschlandticket

A European Court of Justice ruling annulled the long‑standing cap on rail track fees for Germany’s local and regional traffic. The Bundesnetzagentur responded by raising the trassenentgelte for Nahverkehr by about nine percent, adding roughly €400 million in costs, while cutting fees for long‑distance and freight services by 17 % and 12 % respectively.

Brandenburg’s transport minister Robert Crumbach warned that the higher fees threaten the promise of an affordable Deutschlandticket, saying that without additional federal compensation the ticket could become more expensive, services could be reduced, or the ticket could become a “misleading package”. He indicated that legal steps may be considered and that cuts to regional services are not ruled out if demand is low.

For recipients of basic social assistance, no nationwide discount on the Deutschlandticket exists; any price relief depends on local authorities, leaving many low‑income commuters facing the full €63 monthly price.