Deutsche Bahn is permanently introducing family tickets
From November 1st, Deutsche Bahn is offering a fixed family ticket for 99.99 euros, which also includes seat reservations.
Quick Look
- Deutsche Bahn is making the family ticket permanently available from November 1st.
- Families can travel including ICE reservations for 99.99 euros.
- Bahn boss Evelyn Palla announced this after a successful test run during the summer holidays.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The family ticket was originally introduced as a limited offer for the summer holidays. Deutsche Bahn is currently struggling with an outdated infrastructure and punctuality problems.
Deutsche Bahn wants to offer the family ticket permanently. Bahn boss Evelyn Palla announced this in “Bild am Sonntag”. A return trip for a family costs 99.99 euros including ICE reservation.
“We have decided to permanently add the family ticket, which we initially introduced temporarily for the summer holidays, to the range,” said Palla. During the summer holidays, the offer caused a significant increase: “We were able to welcome 100,000 more families on board our trains than last year.”
The transport policy spokeswoman for the SPD parliamentary group, Isabel Cademartori, spoke of a strong signal for affordable mobility. “For just under 100 euros there and back, including seat reservations for up to five people, rail becomes a real alternative to the car for families.”
The family ticket will be offered permanently from November 1st. According to Pallas, sales begin on October 26th – with the same conditions and including reservations. During this year's summer holidays, the federally owned Deutsche Bahn offered a flat-rate ticket for families.
Palla: No quick jump in punctuality
With regard to the punctuality of the train, Palla dampened expectations. The rail network has been neglected for many years. "Much of our systems are too old, too prone to failure and fail too often. We can only renew the system piece by piece and cannot catch up in one or two years what has been missed for many years," said Palla.
Particularly hot summers exacerbated the problems. "Many systems are not designed to withstand temperatures of over 35 degrees for several days. Switch drives, for example, then fail," said Palla. "Everything should have been replaced a long time ago. That didn't happen, and now we are experiencing the consequences," said the railway boss.
“Therefore there will be no quick jump in punctuality,” emphasized Palla. The renovation of the rail network will take at least ten years: "Only when we have renewed a large part of the systems will there be noticeable improvements. And that won't happen overnight."
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Sales of the permanent family ticket start on October 26th.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What is the long-term financial impact on the railway?
