Rising ticket prices in VBB: What Pendler 2026 is expected!

Rising ticket prices in VBB: What Pendler 2026 is expected!

Berlin, Deutschland - Cologne, July 10th, 2025-Mobility in Berlin and Brandenburg is facing noticeable changes: Christoph Heuing, since May 2025 New head of the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association (VBB), has announced that the prices for bus and train could increase from January 2026. This is related to the increased costs that exceed the income from the transport companies. According to a report by RBB | 24, a decision on the exact prices will be made by the end of the third quarter of 2025.

Heuing, who previously headed the Mittelthüringen Transport Association, expects these price adjustments to be requested by an index that has taken into account consumer prices over the past five years. In pricing, those responsible were based on the necessary measures to cover the increasing costs for personnel, material and energy. In 2023, ticket prices rose on average by 7.5 percent, and further increases could be made for 2024, which are also decided in autumn. This makes you take notice, because the public transport users in the region have to prepare for higher driving prices. Volksstimme reports that the ticket prices could rise specifically on January 1, 2024.

tariff structure in upheaval

One of the central tasks of haing is the simplification of the existing tariff structure, which currently includes over 1,000 different ticket prices. "We have to reduce complexity so that passengers can better orient themselves," said the VBB boss in the interview. Despite the challenges that exist through overcrowding and punctuality-punctuality is over 90 percent in VBB, while long-distance traffic has poor values ​​of 60 to 70 percent-Heuing emphasizes that the VBB offer is very good in Germany.

The high demand, including through the popular Germany ticket, means that trains are overcrowded. Heuing therefore demands more financial support from the federal government to increase the number of trains. As announced on VBB.de, an average of 7.53 percent is planned for January 1, 2025. An example of this is the single ticket for Berlin, the price of which will increase to EUR 3.80. The 24-hour cards are also more expensive, while the 4-trip card remains at 2.90 euros per trip.

effects on regional traffic

But the price adjustment goes hand in hand with drastic changes in regional traffic. The VBB had already announced that it would reduce the offer in regional traffic to change timetable in December. The RB27 and RB36 lines are particularly affected, which are only operated to a limited extent. Heuing is aware of the crowded situation and emphasizes that the overfilled cannot be solved at short notice. Additional trains and necessary infrastructure measures need time and funds that have to be provided by the federal government.