Germany, with more than 84 million inhabitants, is located in the heart of Europe and is a crucial road and rail junction within the continent. Hundreds of thousands of people commuting to or traveling through Germany daily rely on Germany’s bus and train network.
In 2023, approximately 80,760 buses and coaches were in operation on German roads, of which 1,790 were not diesel-powered. For trains, numbers are a bit challenging to define as trains often differ in structure (i.e., number of coaches). The federal Deutsche Bahn (DB) primarily manages the German rail network. Its fleet includes high-speed trains (generally known as ICE, IC, and EC trains), trains serving regional routes (usually known as RE and RB trains), and suburban trains (S-Bahn and U-Bahn trains) operating within metropolitan areas. About 90% of DB trains operate on electric paths, and the company intends to be climate-neutral by 2040.
Germany’s total number of local train, bus, and tram passengers reached 5.6 billion in the first half of 2024 – broken down to a day; this number would account for 31 million. Long-distance travel, usually those that use high-speed trains and long-distance busses, has transported approximately 69 million people over the same time[i]. The usage of local public transport saw a 6% increase compared to the same period the previous year. This can be explained with the introduction of the Deutschland-Ticket in May 2023. This ticket offers unlimited travel on local and regional public transport all over Germany – everything other than high-speed trains – for 49€ a month. Even though it has sparked various discussions on its price, the ticket price was ultimately increased to 58€ from January 2025.
One interesting aspect crucial for the industry’s continuity is Germany’s imminent lack of bus drivers. The proportion of bus drivers aged 55 and older is 44%, nearly double the 25% share observed across all occupations in the country. This is primarily because the German armed forces have stopped issuing bus driving licenses to their staff, which means that today’s job starters need to acquire their permits through regular instruction, costing around 14,000€.[ii] One solution among many could be the development of automated vehicles, be it cars or buses. However, this will likely require enormous investments and more trust in driverless vehicles among German authorities.
Decarbonizing the transport sector will be crucial as part of the country’s overall decarbonization efforts. Between 1990 and now, the transport sector has hardly made any strides in lowering its emissions. Initiatives like the Deutschland Ticket should help attract more people to rail services. However, more is needed in that regard. One approach could include switching the tens of thousands of combustion-powered buses to electric vehicles. To secure a sustainable and efficient future, Germany must continue investing in greener transport solutions, modern infrastructure, and workforce development to maintain its vital mobility network.
This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Germany Country Manager Maxmillian Block.
[i] https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/local-public-transport-users-6-germany-first-half-2024
[ii] https://www.wiwo.de/unternehmen/dienstleister/personalmangel-netto-gehen-einige-unserer-fahrer-mit-3500-euro-im-monat-nach-hause/30204846.html