Justice Ministry: Number of Passengers Without Tickets in DB Long-Distance Traffic Has Increased - Germany's train fare evasion crisis hits record highs in 2024
Fare evasion on Germany's trains has surged in recent years, with record numbers of passengers caught without valid tickets. New figures from Deutsche Bahn and the Federal Police show a sharp rise in cases across regional, long-distance, and S-Bahn services. Critics argue that rising costs are pushing more people to risk travelling without payment.
In 2024 alone, Deutsche Bahn's long-distance trains caught over 268,000 passengers without tickets. This marks a steady increase from 264,000 in 2023 and nearly 214,000 in 2022. Reports filed against fare evaders have also climbed, reaching 18,010 in 2024—up from 17,125 in 2023 and 12,648 in 2022.
Nationwide, the problem extends beyond long-distance travel. In 2024, over 140,000 cases of fare evasion were recorded across all train services. Regional and S-Bahn networks saw the most dramatic rise, with reported incidents jumping from around 12 million in 2021 to an estimated 18 million in 2025. The peak occurred in 2023, when cases exceeded 20 million. Despite the high numbers, only a small fraction of those caught could later prove they had paid. Luke Hoß, the Left Party's legal policy spokesperson, claimed that many people simply can no longer afford tickets. He called on the federal government to stop prosecuting minor fare evasion offences and to replace prison sentences with alternative measures.
The data highlights a growing trend of fare evasion, particularly in regional and commuter services. With fewer passengers able to provide proof of payment, authorities face challenges in enforcement. Meanwhile, political pressure mounts to reform penalties for those caught without tickets.
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