Mainz axes unpopular short-distance transport ticket in 2025

Mainz is scrapping its short-distance public transport ticket from next year. The decision follows years of plummeting demand and rising costs for the rarely used fare. City officials insist the change will not disrupt passengers, as other affordable options remain available.

Sales of the short-distance ticket have collapsed since 2019. Adult tickets dropped by 83%, while children's fares fell by 88%. The steep decline made the ticket financially unsustainable for Mainzer Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG), the city's transport operator.

At the same time, administrative and distribution expenses for the ticket climbed. The price difference between single short trips and multi-journey passes also shrank, reducing the ticket's appeal. MVG now views phasing it out as unavoidable due to ongoing financial strain. The Ecological Democratic Party (ÖDP) raised concerns after residents questioned the move. However, MVG confirmed no plans exist to reintroduce a similar fare. Instead, the multi-journey pass—already popular with occasional travellers—will stay as the main alternative. While the Deutschlandticket launched in May 2023, its direct impact on Mainz and Wiesbaden remains unclear. Nationally, 14.6 million people are expected to use the scheme by late 2025, with public transport gradually recovering across Germany.

The short-distance ticket will disappear in 2025 after years of declining use. MVG expects minimal disruption, as passengers can switch to existing multi-journey passes. The operator has ruled out reviving a similar low-cost fare in the future.