New Pricing Policy for Family Seat Reservations on Deutsche Bahn
Families face significant increases in seat reservation costs as Deutsche Bahn modifies its pricing structure.
Starting this Sunday, families traveling with Deutsche Bahn will experience a considerable increase in seat reservation costs.
The state-owned railway company has announced the elimination of its family reservation option, which has attracted criticism from various associations and political parties.
Under the new policy, all passengers, including children, will be required to pay for seat reservations.
The cost for a second-class reservation will increase by 30 cents to €5.50, while first-class reservations will rise to €6.90, up from €6.50.
For instance, instead of paying €10.40 for a family reservation, a family of four with two children will now pay €22. For a round trip, this would total €44.
The ecological transport club, VCD, has called on Deutsche Bahn to retain the family reservation option, emphasizing that families with children rely on reserved seating.
VCD's chairperson, Kerstin Haarmann, stated that families are effectively facing another price increase, just six months after the last regular fare hike in December.
Haarmann suggested that the railway should focus on maintaining affordable general offerings rather than short-term discounts.
Jörg Bruchertseifer from the passenger association Pro Bahn highlighted the need for both the political and ownership representatives to make environmentally-friendly train travel more financially attractive for families, especially given that cost remains a critical factor in choosing between train and car travel.
The environmental organization Greenpeace expressed outrage over the new pricing structure.
Transportation expert Lena Donat remarked that the high cost of reservation fees might push families towards using cars, as the expense could surpass the fuel costs for many vehicles over a 400-kilometer journey.
Michaela Engelmeier, chairperson of the Social Association of Germany, added that additional financial burdens particularly affect low-income households, complicating decisions for climate-friendly travel.
Political criticism has also emerged, with calls for Deutsche Bahn to reconsider its pricing strategy.
Victoria Broßart, a member of the Green Party, labeled the situation a scandal, asserting that families need to sit together, and exploiting this necessity through price hikes is unacceptable.
She warned that such pricing policies could lead families to prefer car travel for visits or vacations.
CDU representative Christoph Ploß echoed these sentiments, urging the railway company to rethink its approach.
In response to criticism, Deutsche Bahn has noted that children aged 14 and under can still travel for free when accompanied by an adult.
The company also stated that the changing reservation system would not significantly affect families, as family reservations were often utilized by single adults traveling with children.
Moreover, the family reservation option only provided a financial advantage when three or more travelers were involved.
Historically, about five percent of long-distance travelers used the family reservation system, equating to approximately 6.7 million passengers out of 133.4 million long-distance travelers on Deutsche Bahn last year.
The state-owned railway company has announced the elimination of its family reservation option, which has attracted criticism from various associations and political parties.
Under the new policy, all passengers, including children, will be required to pay for seat reservations.
The cost for a second-class reservation will increase by 30 cents to €5.50, while first-class reservations will rise to €6.90, up from €6.50.
For instance, instead of paying €10.40 for a family reservation, a family of four with two children will now pay €22. For a round trip, this would total €44.
The ecological transport club, VCD, has called on Deutsche Bahn to retain the family reservation option, emphasizing that families with children rely on reserved seating.
VCD's chairperson, Kerstin Haarmann, stated that families are effectively facing another price increase, just six months after the last regular fare hike in December.
Haarmann suggested that the railway should focus on maintaining affordable general offerings rather than short-term discounts.
Jörg Bruchertseifer from the passenger association Pro Bahn highlighted the need for both the political and ownership representatives to make environmentally-friendly train travel more financially attractive for families, especially given that cost remains a critical factor in choosing between train and car travel.
The environmental organization Greenpeace expressed outrage over the new pricing structure.
Transportation expert Lena Donat remarked that the high cost of reservation fees might push families towards using cars, as the expense could surpass the fuel costs for many vehicles over a 400-kilometer journey.
Michaela Engelmeier, chairperson of the Social Association of Germany, added that additional financial burdens particularly affect low-income households, complicating decisions for climate-friendly travel.
Political criticism has also emerged, with calls for Deutsche Bahn to reconsider its pricing strategy.
Victoria Broßart, a member of the Green Party, labeled the situation a scandal, asserting that families need to sit together, and exploiting this necessity through price hikes is unacceptable.
She warned that such pricing policies could lead families to prefer car travel for visits or vacations.
CDU representative Christoph Ploß echoed these sentiments, urging the railway company to rethink its approach.
In response to criticism, Deutsche Bahn has noted that children aged 14 and under can still travel for free when accompanied by an adult.
The company also stated that the changing reservation system would not significantly affect families, as family reservations were often utilized by single adults traveling with children.
Moreover, the family reservation option only provided a financial advantage when three or more travelers were involved.
Historically, about five percent of long-distance travelers used the family reservation system, equating to approximately 6.7 million passengers out of 133.4 million long-distance travelers on Deutsche Bahn last year.
Translation:
Translated by AI
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