photo: Jens Cederskjold / Flickr/DB logo; illustrative photo
Deutsche Bahn is introducing a wide range of discounts on advance bookings and easing cancellation rules in an effort to address long-standing public criticism and respond to pressure from Germany’s new federal government. The aim is to improve economic performance by filling more seats on its trains.
According to Deutsche Bahn, average train occupancy in the first four months of this year stood at approximately 44 percent. While this figure is slightly better than the same period in the previous year, it still falls short of the company's own target of 50 percent occupancy. April saw particularly weak demand, with DB attributing the decline to extensive track maintenance, extended journey times, and passengers opting for alternative, non-rail modes of transport.
New Discounts Target All Passenger Groups
DB is seeking to attract significantly more passengers, especially during public holidays and ahead of the summer holiday season. From 15 June, flexible tickets booked at least 28 days in advance will be eligible for a 20 percent discount compared to bookings made closer to the departure date.
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Short-distance tickets for journeys up to 100 kilometres will be available from EUR 6.99, with BahnCard holders paying as little as EUR 5.24. Additional discounts are planned for long-distance services, focusing on young travellers under 27, seniors, and commuters. Holders of the BahnCard 50 will also benefit: until 30 September, they may bring along a companion, with both receiving a 50 percent discount on flexible fares and a 25 percent discount on already reduced fares. Deutsche Bahn estimates that these promotions could yield savings of up to EUR 120 on popular routes such as Frankfurt to Munich.
More Flexible Cancellation Policies Introduced
DB is also softening its cancellation rules. Starting 15 June, passengers will once again be able to cancel tickets free of charge up until one day before the ticket’s validity. Previously, free cancellations were only possible up to eight days prior to departure.
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These rigid policies had long been criticised by both the general public and advocacy groups such as Pro Bahn, which have consistently called for more consumer-friendly rules. The decision to relax these regulations is widely seen as a result of growing political pressure on Deutsche Bahn from Germany’s new coalition government.
Source: RAILTARGET; Televize ARD