Higher prices for bus and train journeys from January

In Berlin and Brandenburg, the next price increase in local public transport is imminent: From January, bus and train journeys in both federal states will cost an average of 6 per cent more, according to the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association (VBB).

This was decided by the VBB Supervisory Board at its meeting on Thursday (18 September 2025). The single ticket for the Berlin city area will then cost 4.00 euros for the first time - 20 cents more than at present. In Potsdam, passengers will have to pay 3.00 euros for a single journey in future. This is also a price increase of 20 cents.

Several tariffs are cancelled

In addition, the association is removing some fares from its range. The reason for this is low demand, it said. For example, the VBB 65Plus subscription, which was intended for senior citizens, will disappear. It currently costs 62 euros per month. It is therefore more expensive than the Germany-wide ticket and, with its smaller geographical validity, offers senior citizens no additional advantages such as the option of bringing another person with them or transferability.

"We don't want more, but fewer tariffs"

In future, the BC fare level, which covered the surrounding area of Berlin and the districts outside the ring road, will also no longer be offered. The 7-day travelcard and the annual travelcards for all target groups will also disappear, as will the 10 o'clock travelcard in Berlin and the 9 o'clock travelcards in the cities of Potsdam, Brandenburg an der Havel and Frankfurt (Oder). There have been more and more new fares in recent years, said VBB boss Christoph Heuing, explaining the decision. "As a result, many people are complaining because it has become totally confusing. That's why there's now a trend: we don't want more fares, we want fewer."

Sharp rise in energy and personnel costs

The VBB said that the price increases were a reaction to the sharp rise in costs. This mainly relates to energy and personnel. Electricity has become around 38 per cent more expensive, as have fuels and lubricants for vehicles. According to the Federal Statistical Office, inflation for road passenger transport (including taxi journeys and carpooling) was almost 35 per cent between the end of 2015 and August 2025. As a rule, local public transport is half financed by ticket revenues and the so-called regionalisation funds from the federal government.