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The major VRR fare reform simplifies ticket purchasing

With the major fare reform, we want to further simplify the fare structures in our network area. And always with a focus on the needs of our customers, the ambitious national and international climate protection targets, the greatest possible efficiency of the overall public transport system and a possible signalling effect for the whole of North Rhine-Westphalia. On this page, we will inform you about the background, components and benefits of the fare reform.

Why are we reforming the local transport tariff in the VRR?

The DeutschlandTicket is one of the most significant advances in local public transport in recent decades. It gives people easy and inexpensive access to buses and trains and has become an important component of local public transport. In addition, the eezy ticket, which has been valid throughout NRW since December 2021, offers an uncomplicated solution for all those who only want to use public transport occasionally.

"Less is more"

With the aim of making the range of fares clearer, we are creating a local transport tariff that is groundbreaking for NRW in its simplicity. Our activities are not based on an abstract target image, but on the developments that you as customers have dictated in recent years through your purchasing and usage behaviour.

The VRR fare in transition

The use of the classic VRR fare - both in the area of season tickets and tickets for occasional travellers - has fallen sharply: Over 95% of regular VRR customers have switched to the DeutschlandTicket product family. At the same time, sales of tickets for occasional customers have fallen by around 35% because many passengers have switched to the attractively priced DeutschlandTicket. Currently, 90 % of transport companies' sales are concentrated on just four tickets: the DeutschlandTicket, the single ticket, the 4-trip ticket and the Ticket2000.

With the exception of journeys with the DeutschlandTicket, passengers mainly travel in price levels A (generally for journeys within a city) and B (for journeys to a neighbouring city or the immediate surrounding area). In addition, nationwide market research has shown that there are two main reasons for purchasing a DeutschlandTicket: its validity throughout Germany and the flexibility and independence of not having to worry about fare zones or borders.

The most important changes at a glance

We are simplifying the fare structure by reducing the price levels from seven to three. From 1 March 2025, there will only be one price level A for journeys within a city, one price level B for journeys to a neighbouring city (or the immediate surrounding area) and price level C for VRR-wide validity. The short distance and the "old" price level C will no longer be available.

In future, all passengers will have access to a clear basic range of VRR fares in addition to the DeutschlandTicket and the electronic eezy ticket.

Detailed information can be found in the brochure "The major fare reform - background, components, benefits"

Changes to the ticket range from 1 March 2025

From March 1, 2025, the VRR fare will include the following range

  • DeutschlandTicket
  • DeutschlandTicket Schule (School)
  • DeutschlandTicket Social (Sozial)
  • DeutschlandTicket Job
  • DeutschlandSemesterTicket
  • Ticket2000
  • SozialTicket
  • SchokoTicket
  • Semesterticket

  • digital eezy ticket
  • SingleTicket
  • 4-ticket (as paper ticket)
  • 24-hour ticket

  • BikeTicket (valid for 24 hours)
  • Bicycle subscription or monthly ticket
  • 1st class subscription or monthly ticket
  • Additional ticket ("1st class" and "valid throughout the network")

The following tariff offers will no longer be available from March 1, 2025

  • Ticket1000 (as a season ticket, monthly pass, 30-day ticket and 9 o'clock variant)
  • YoungTicketPLUS (as a monthly pass and season ticket)
  • BärenTicket
  • CompanyTicket discount model
  • Major customer discount model
  • Pre-course ticket
  • Supplementary surcharges to the VRS and AVV job tickets

  • 48-hour ticket (in all passenger variants)
  • HappyHourTicket
  • 10-person ticket
  • FlexTickets (Flex25, Flex35 and FlexSocial)
  • 4-hour ticket
  • 4-seater additional ticket
  • 4erTicket (as a digital multi-ride ticket)

The building blocks of the major fare reform in VRR

Focus on DeutschlandTicket

We are clearly focussing on the DeutschlandTicket and its different variants for different target groups - today and in the long term. At the same time, we are strengthening sales in the VRR in order to maintain sales and revenue in our network area.

Future tariff eezy: flexible on the move

We are establishing the popular eezy electronic fare as a future fare for passengers who only occasionally travel by bus and train. A basic range of the previous VRR fare will remain in place.

Digital sales for local transport: simple, cashless and efficient

We are investing in digital sales channels! In the long term, we want to make it easier for local transport customers to buy tickets, increase cashless purchases and reduce the amount of advice required.

The advantages at a glance

...for passengers

  • DeutschlandTicket as an attractively priced, reliable offer for nationwide public transport
  • eezy as a convenient, flexible and fair future tariff for occasional users throughout NRW
  • Great simplification of the VRR fare structure to just three price levels and a few demand-oriented offers from the VRR range
  • Social participation through needs-based fare offers for specific target groups
  • Easy access to local public transport by removing barriers and obstacles to use
  • Customers receive the most attractive and suitable offer for them

...for transport companies

  • more satisfied customers thanks to a needs-based and attractive range of fares for different target groups
  • Cost reduction through savings in sales and training costs as well as a reduction in counselling costs when selling local transport tickets
  • Adherence to the timetable
  • Increased turnover and sales through cooperation with the (regional) economy

...for the economy

  • Companies as attractive employers that offer their employees an attractive price with the DeutschlandTicket Job
  • More satisfied employees thanks to benefits relating to employee mobility
  • Location advantages through an attractive local transport offer in the company's neighbourhood