Price increases in local transport: What awaits MV passengers in 2026!

Price increases in local transport: What awaits MV passengers in 2026!

The price development in local public transport concerns many users in Germany, especially in the north-east of the country. Loud star However, the situation in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania remains largely stable. While ticket prices in other federal states will rise from 2026, the local transport company is essentially not planning any increases. The only exception is the state capital Schwerin, where the single ticket for adults will be increased from 2.50 euros to 2.70 euros - i.e. by 8 percent.

The monthly pass is also becoming more expensive here, it will soon cost 54 euros instead of the previous 50 euros. In Rostock, however, where the single ticket currently costs 3.00 euros and the monthly ticket 85 euros, there is currently no applicable information about possible price adjustments.

Stable prices in the regions

No matter where you look, ticket prices also remain stable in Neubrandenburg and Stralsund. In Neubrandenburg, passengers pay 2.30 euros for a single ticket, while in Stralsund it costs 2.60 euros. The Vorpommern-Rügen transport company and the Neubrandenburg city bus service have not yet announced any plans to adjust prices. For users, this means a certain level of planning security, even if average tariff adjustments of 5.4 percent are expected in large cities such as Hamburg and Berlin from January 1, 2026.

A more far-reaching issue is the Germany ticket, the price of which rose by 18 percent from 49 euros to 58 euros at the beginning of the year. Baltic Sea newspaper shows that travelers in Rostock still remain loyal to the ticket. Around 95,000 passengers use it via the Warnow Transport Association (VVW). Despite the price increase, there are no significant waves of cancellations, which speaks for the loyalty of users. This is confirmed by VVW project manager Maxi Bergel, who is optimistic about the future.

Support for seniors

In addition, the Germany ticket for seniors is partially subsidized by the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. From the age of 65, after the price increase, they will only have to pay 43 euros per month instead of 38 euros. This state funding shows that there is an awareness of the needs of older people, where mobility is often a challenge.

The infrastructural challenges should also not be underestimated. Public transport companies face uncertain financial prospects, a circumstance that is mitigated by state compensation payments of 1.5 billion euros every year. Since holidaymakers often buy tickets in different cities, the distribution of revenue between transport companies is particularly important and could be optimized.

In the future, there could be a change in the law in the financing of local transport, which was decided for 2025 shortly before Christmas. In addition, a specific ticket, the Mirror Ticket, was discontinued on December 31, 2025, which prompted many users to switch to the Deutschlandticket. Given this dynamic, the Vorpommern-Greifswald transport company and Schwerin local transport are also relying on digital ticket solutions to simplify the process.

While local transport in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is on a stable course, the longing for simpler tariff structures for passengers remains. The Pro Bahn passenger association is committed to this and is calling for a change in the structure of local transport in order to ensure sustainable and user-friendly mobility in the future.