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The Aachen transport association decided on higher prices
From 2026, many passengers in North Rhine-Westphalia will pay more for buses and trains. Moreover, frequently used German tickets are expensive. AVV also wants to increase the price of its fares.
As the last of the four transport associations in North Rhine-Westphalia, the AVV will decide today (Wednesday) on the upcoming price increases at the start of 2026. Like the Rhein-Sieg transport association (VRS), this involves an average price increase of 1.9 percent, a spokesperson for the Aachen transport association (AVV) said before the decision of the German Press Agency committee. Traveling by bus and train will become more expensive in much of North Rhine-Westphalia at the turn of the year.
VRS and AVV want to implement tariff reform together. The local public transport fare limit between Cologne and Aachen will be reduced on 1 June 2026, as announced by VRS. There are different prices in price level 1 depending on the size of the municipality. In the second stage on June 1 2028, short-haul routes will no longer apply. With the tariff reform, the previous ten price levels in the VRS and six price levels in the AVV will initially be reduced to five and in a second step to four, the VRS explained.
German tickets have become more expensive
The fare reform is intended to make traveling by bus and train easier for customers of local transport providers. Previously, they had to pay for the extension due to fare restrictions between the two transport associations. It is located between Kerpen and Düren. The fare covers local public transport travel by bus and train, S-Bahn trains and regional trains. Single tickets make up only a small portion. Deutschlandticket dominates, which will be expensive nationwide from 58 to 63 euros per month on January 1, 2026.
In late September, VRR’s Board of Directors decided on an average price increase of 4.9 percent as of January 1, 2026. The main reasons are personnel costs, energy and the transformation towards a sustainable drive that has been developing for years, he said. In early March 2025, VRR lowered the price tiers from seven to three. As part of the fare reform, short-haul routes in the VRR area were cancelled.
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The Transport Association has changed the deadline for price increases from August 1 to January 1 so that there can be an increase at the turn of the year. The majority of Westphalian fare companies and transport companies have agreed to “only make small price increases if necessary” from January 1 2026, he said. Some transportation companies will refrain from actually necessary fare increases.
However, some customers should expect two fare increases in as many months: at the transport association Westfalentarif, prices recently rose by 5.29 percent on the old deadline of August 1, 2025.
The last Westphalian fare price increase will be on August 1, 2025.
dpa
