Despite the well-documented issues with punctuality and reliability, the number of Germans using public transportation continued to increase in 2025, albeit at a slower rate than before. According to data from Germany's Federal Statistical Office, Germans made around 5.7 billion journeys on public transportation in the first half of this year, a 1% increase on the same period in 2024.
You can't get a bus to Birmingham today, it's impossible. It is really just up the road, our big regional centre but there are no buses. How ridiculous is that? said Philip Adams. Adams, who has lived in Ludlow for many years, remembers the bygone days of the poppy red buses of the Midland Red company toing and froing to Birmingham, until the publicly owned business was broken up in 1981 and sold off under Margaret Thatcher's deregulation and privatisation agenda.
Earlier this month the Chancellor said that TfL will receive nearly £2.2 billion to spend on infrastructure over the next five years. Put plainly, in return for this cash TfL is being told to hike its prices.
