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 greatest achievements in public transport in recent decades. It offers people in Germany easy and affordable access to buses and trains, making it an important component of local public transport. The eezy electronic fare, which is valid throughout NRW, has been available since December 2021 and is a simple and intuitive electronic fare for all those who only want to travel by bus and train occasionally. We want to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the DeutschlandTicket and the eezy ticket and further simplify the public transport structures in our network area with a major fare reform.

"Less is more"

True to the motto "less is more", we are designing 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 customers have dictated in recent years through their purchasing and usage behaviour.

The VRR fare in transition

The classic VRR fare - both in the area of season tickets and in the cash fare - has declined sharply: Over 95% of regular VRR customers have switched to the DeutschlandTicket product family. At the same time, sales of the bar tariff have fallen by around 35% - not least because many passengers have switched to the attractively priced DeutschlandTicket. Currently, 90 % of the transport companies' sales are concentrated on just five tickets: the DeutschlandTicket, the single ticket, the 4-person ticket, the semester ticket and the Ticket2000.

With the exception of journeys with the DeutschlandTicket, passengers mainly travel in price levels A (usually 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 buying a DeutschlandTicket: its validity throughout Germany and the flexibility and independence of not having to worry about fare zones or borders.

A small range for a large customer base

We are simplifying the fare structures by reducing the price levels in the VRR. In future, there will only be one price level for journeys within a city, a further price level for journeys to neighbouring cities or the immediate surrounding area and VRR-wide validity. Together with eezy for uncomplicated travelling throughout North Rhine-Westphalia and the DeutschlandTicket for nationwide use of public transport, this will result in a fare structure that meets the needs of customers and at the same time significantly reduces the costs for fares and sales.

The building blocks of the major fare reform in VRR

Focussing on the 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 simplify the sales processes for local transport customers, strengthen cashless purchasing and reduce the amount of time and effort spent advising customers.

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 tariffs for different target groups
  • Cost reduction through savings in sales and training costs as well as a reduction in counselling costs for ticket sales
  • 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