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Hamburg's seniors will benefit from a cheaper Germany ticket from May 2024!
In Hamburg, seniors aged 67 and over will receive a reduced Germany ticket for 49 euros from May 2024 to promote mobility.
Hamburg's seniors will benefit from a cheaper Germany ticket from May 2024!
There is exciting news for seniors in Hamburg: From May 2024, all Hamburg residents aged 67 and over will receive a discounted Germany ticket. Instead of the regular 63 euros, they will now only pay 49 euros. Finance Senator Andreas Dressel (SPD) and Transport Senator Anjes Tjarks (Greens) presented this measure, which is intended to promote social participation and mobility of older people. The subsidies for the city cost around nine million euros annually, but many voices in the state senior advisory board and the taxpayers' association are dissatisfied. They demand more concrete solutions for seniors in need.
Seniors who receive basic security currently pay 22.50 euros for the Deutschlandticket; from January 2026 this price will rise to 27.50 euros. Critics such as Klaus Wicher from the SoVD social association say that it is an injustice that needy seniors, in contrast to other groups, such as students, do not have free access to local transport. Many older people also have reservations about local public transport and often prefer to use the car, not least because bus rides in Hamburg are perceived as jerky.
Investments in public transport and the call for change
The city of Hamburg has announced massive investments of around one billion euros in rapid transit expansion in 2025 and 2026, with a further 2.8 billion by 2030. Nevertheless, there is criticism that the new U5 underground line is difficult to access for older people. Voices calling for a transport option that is suitable for seniors – for example a light rail network – are becoming increasingly louder. So there is a need for action here.
In Hamburg, it's not just seniors who benefit from the city's offerings. Over 200,000 students already enjoy the free hvv Germany ticket. Trainees, students and more than 330,000 employees can also benefit from special conditions. The Senate is committed to a social discount for people receiving benefits in order to improve mobility for everyone, and structurally over 130 million euros are earmarked for the Deutschlandticket.
Alternative ticket options for seniors
In various German cities, including Hamburg, it is also possible to get a free Germany ticket - but on the condition that pensioners voluntarily hand in their driving license. This regulation is part of a program to promote sustainable mobility and is intended to help reduce the costs associated with driving.
The delivery of a driving license is linked to certain criteria, such as a minimum age of 65 years and residence in the respective city. The advantages of this regulation are clear, but there are also challenges: Losing your own vehicle can lead to accessibility problems, especially in rural areas.
The current discussion about the new ticket prices shows that the topic of mobility for seniors is important not only in Hamburg, but throughout Germany. It remains to be seen how the city will respond to the demands expressed and whether further offers to improve mobility in old age will be developed in the future.