Ticket prices in North Rhine -Westphalia: Driving will be so expensive from January 2025!

From January 1, 2025, comprehensive price increases for tickets in local public transport will come into force in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). This affects three major transport associations that clearly adapt their ticket prices.

The transport association Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) increases ticket prices by an average of 5.5%. About 23% of ticket sales are affected by this price increase. This measure is reaction to increased consumer prices as well as increased personnel and energy costs. In addition, from March 2025, the number of price levels will be reduced from seven to three. The new price levels are A, B and C, whereby price level A is covered within a city, price level B journeys to the neighboring city or the direct surrounding area and price level C is valid.

Details on the increases

The Transport Association Rhein-Sieg (VRS) follows with an increase in ticket prices by an average of 5.9%. Specific price changes include the 24-hour ticket in price level 1A, which will cost 7.40 euros in the future (previously 7 euros). In Cologne and Bonn, the new price for the 24-hour ticket is 9 euros (previously 8.50 euros). In addition, a single trip will cost 3.70 euros (20 cents more) in the future, while outside of Cologne and Bonn it will increase to EUR 3.10 (10 more). The monthly ticket for Cologne and Bonn will also be more expensive and will cost 137.90 euros (so far 130.20 euros).

In the Aachen Verkehrsverbund (AVV), a price increase of 5.75% is expected to generate additional income of around 7.1 million euros. The Verkehrsverbund Westfalenarif plans to keep ticket prices stable, but reserves possible price increases from August 1st. The last price increase in this network was an average of 6.25%.

In addition, the price adjustment also affects the Germany ticket, whose subscription price increases from 1 January 2025 to 58 euros per month, which corresponds to an increase of 18% compared to the previous 49 euros. The Germany ticket remains valid for almost all buses, trams, city and subways as well as S-Bahn, regional trains and regional exams in the 2nd class. However, Deutsche Bahn (ICE, IC, EC) and private providers are excluded.

like Tagesschau.de , this price reform is a direct answer to the prevailing economic challenges and should stabilize the financial framework in local transport. At the same time, wdr.de The information on the price structure that goes hand in hand with the upcoming increases.