Bus pass and 29-Euro Ticket
Your student CampusCard isn't just a student ID card; it's also a bus pass for Passau's SWP/VBP bus network for the whole semester. Furthermore, as an enrolled student (and CampusCard holder) you can get a discounted Deutschlandticket. This page provides information on both of these.
What must I do to make sure my CampusCard is a valid bus pass?
Before you use it as a bus pass for the first time you must make sure, that:
- your CampusCard displays the VBP logo
- you have validated your CampusCard for the current semester
Now your CampusCard is ready for use as a bus pass.
You will need to carry additional photographic ID (i.e. your passport, foreigners registration card or, if you are an EU citizen, your national ID card) whenever taking the bus.
A general note on buying tickets on a German bus
In Germany you have to buy your ticket from the driver when you board the bus. Don't just hop on board and wait for someone to come and sell you a ticket as you run the risk of being caught fare-dodging, even if this was not intentional!
Likewise, if you use your CampusCard bus pass, you should show it to the driver when getting on the bus without waiting to be asked.
When is my bus pass valid?
The semester bus pass is valid throughout the semester for which you have validated your card. The summer semester runs from 1 April to 30 September and the winter semester from 1 October to 31 March.
Which bus services can I use it for?
The integrated bus pass is valid for nearly all bus services operated by Verkehrsbetriebsgesellschaft Passau (VBP), a subsidiary of Stadtwerke Passau (SWP), within the city limits of Passau (look for the VBP logo on the timetable and on your student ID card). There is only one exception: the semester bus pass arrangement does not cover the so-called 'Oberhausbus', which runs between the Old Town Hall and the castle.
Where can't I use the semester bus pass?
Please be aware that your integrated bus pass is only valid on city buses. It is not valid on regional bus services (RBO/VLP): these bus operators are distinct from SWP/VBP and primarily serve destinations outside the city limits (Landkreis Passau).
Deutschlandticket and 29-Euro Ticket for students
The government has launched the Deutschlandticket, a new ticket valid on all regional and local public transport in all of Germany. While this does not include long distance trains (high speed trains, sleeper trains, international trains, etc.) or long distance coaches, there is no limit to how far you travel within Germany on these tickets.
From the winter semester 2023–24 onwards, students can purchase a discounted Deutschlandticket, also known as the 29-Euro Ticket. This can also be bought as an add-on ticket on top of your semester bus pass, which subtracts the price of the semester bus pass from the discounted Deutschlandticket.
Overview of conditions for the semester bus pass and the D-Ticket versions
| Ticket | Semester bus pass | Deutschlandticket (D-Ticket) | 29-Euro Ticket (D-Ticket for students) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Validity period | Whole semester (six months) | Monthly subscription | Monthly subscription |
| Geographic validity | City buses in Passau (VBP buses) but not regional buses (RBO) | Local and regional public transport in all of Germany (regional buses, regional trains, urban transit in all German cities) | Local and regional public transport in all of Germany (regional buses, regional trains, urban transit in all German cities) |
| Price | 32 euros per Semester, included in the semester contribution fee | 29 euros per month for students at Bavarian universities 49 euros per month without the student discount | The price is 23.70 euros per month for students at the University of Passau |
| Eligibility | Only students enrolled at the University of Passau | Anyone (cost: 49 euros); students enrolled at a Bavarian university can get the discounted 29-euro version | Only students enrolled at the University of Passau |
Where to buy the Deutschlandticket/29-Euro Ticket
Passau's local bus company (Stadtwerke Passau) does not sell the discounted Deutschlandticket; instead, it is sold through a booking platform [German content] in cooperation with the transport association of the city of Regensburg (Regensburger Verkehrsverbund, RVV). Please note that the booking platform is only available in German. For a step-by-step description of the booking process English, see the question "This sounds like a great deal! How can I get one?" in the FAQs below.
29-Euro Ticket/D-Ticket FAQs
The 29-Euro Ticket is a digital transportation ticket, valid for an entire calendar month, which gives you unlimited access to regional trains and buses all throughout Germany.
All students enrolled at the University of Passau, including doctoral students.
As a student enrolled at the University of Passau, it will cost you €23.70 per month.
Huh? Why does a thing called the 29-Euro Ticket only cost €23.70?
This is because part of your semester fee is for the semester bus pass and this money that you already paid is being used to offset the cost of the 29-Euro Ticket.
The 29-Euro Ticket is valid on all regional trains and buses in Germany and on local transport in towns and cities. This includes the buses in Passau as well as the RBO buses for the rural district around Passau. It is even valid for travel to a small number of foreign destinations near the German border, such as Salzburg and Kufstein.
IMPORTANT: The Deutschlandticket is not valid on IC, ICE and EC trains (i.e. long-distance trains), long-distance coaches such as Flixbus or on sightseeing buses or similar tourism-related transport.
When planning a trip, we recommend that you check the bahn.de website or DB Navigator App to make sure the Deutschlandticket is valid on all segments of your journey.
Please remember that the 29-Euro Ticket is only valid in combination with proof of student status and an official photographic ID, so you must always have your CampusCard (or a printout of your matriculation certificate) and your passport or eAufenthaltskarte with you when travelling on the 29-Euro Ticket.
They are the exact same thing. The 29-Euro Ticket is simply a 49-Euro Ticket which has been subsidised by the State of Bavaria and made available only to certain groups, including university students.
Here's how:
- Navigate to the booking platform at https://dticket-fuer-studenten-passau.rvv.de [German content]
- Click on the “Deutschlandticket abonnieren” button.
- Enter your given name(s) in the “Vorname” field, family name(s) in the “Nachname” field, and date of birth in the “Geburtsdatum” field (in the format DD.MM.YYYY).
“Abonnent ist auch Rechnungsempfänger” means that you are the person who is being invoiced. If you want the invoice to go to someone else, untick this box. Click on “Weiter”. - Enter your German address in the following order: Street name, house number, postcode, town/city. Then click on “Weiter”.
- Enter your e-mail address and set a password (you have to enter the same in both fields).
The password must be at least 8 characters long and contain uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and special characters (at least one of each).
Please make a note of your username and password for future use – you will be managing your D-Ticket subscription through this account. Click on “Weiter”. - This screen only appears If you unticked “Abonnent ist auch Rechnungsempfänger” earlier on. You will now be asked for the details of the invoice recipient – given name(s), family name(s) and date of birth. Click on “Weiter”.
- This screen only appears If you unticked “Abonnent ist auch Rechnungsempfänger” earlier on. You will now be asked for the invoice address. Click on “Weiter”.
- You will now be asked which month your D-Ticket should start. Choose one and click on “Weiter”.
- In this screen you will enter the bank account details for the direct debit procedure. Enter the account holder’s name and IBAN (international bank account number).
Please note that only German IBANs are supported – the IBAN must start with “DE”.
Tick the box next to the text. This authorises RVV to debit the account indicated.
Click on “Eingaben überprüfen”. - You are now shown a summary of all relevant details.
Tick the box next to “Datenschutz und AGBs” (this means data privacy and terms of service), and click on the “Kostenpflichtig abonnieren” button (order and pay). - Check your e-mail inbox and click on the confirmation link in the e-mail from RVV.
Your tickets will be sent to the e-mail address you indicated every month. You can print them out or use the option to have them added to your Apple or Google wallet.
Please remember that the 29-Euro Ticket is only valid in combination with proof of student status and an official photographic ID, so you must always have your CampusCard (or a printout of your matriculation certificate) and your passport or eAufenthaltskarte with you when travelling on the 29-Euro Ticket.
You can’t buy it from a station or train. The discounted Deutschlandticket for students is only available as a subscription. As a Passau student, you have to book it as described under This sounds like a great deal! How can I get one?
You must cancel the ticket before the 10th of the calendar month or else it will automatically renew for the next month. You are of course free to sign up for it, cancel it, and then sign up for it again the next month if you want to be sure you will need it before buying it.
However, please note that if you wait to buy the ticket after the 10th day of a calendar month you will have to pay for the next month too, since the ticket can only be cancelled up until the 10th calendar day.
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