Railways now abolish family reservations, introducing fresh discounts instead
Starting this Sunday, families traveling long distances by train will face a costly change. The German Railway Company (Deutsche Bahn) has done away with the fixed-price family reservation, meaning each seat must now be paid for individually per family member [1][5]. In addition, the cost for seat reservations in second class has risen by 30 cents to 5.50 euros per seat, and those in first class now cost 6.90 euros instead of the previous 6.50 euros [6]. For a family of four, this translates to a significant rise in costs, with reservations now at twice the previous rate.
Backlash and Criticism on the Abolition
This change in policy has sparked a wave of outrage and criticism from politicians and associations in recent days. The ecological transport club Germany (VCD) has even started a petition to prevent this measure [2]. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport expressed doubts about this move on Friday [3]. However, the state-owned company remains resolute in its decision, emphasizing that children under 14 years of age do not need to pay for train tickets when accompanied by adults [4].
Despite the criticism, some improvements will come into effect with the timetable change on Sunday. Flex price tickets can once again be canceled without charge up to one day before the first day of validity. Moreover, some discount campaigns have begun [5].
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[1] "Family Reservations Abolished on Deutsche Bahn: Rise in Seat Reservation Prices"[2] "VCD Starts Petition Against Deutsche Bahn's Elimination of Family Reservations"[3] "Ministry of Transport Doubts Deutsche Bahn's Abolition of Family Reservations"[4] "Deutsche Bahn Stands Firm on Abolition of Family Reservations"[5] "Positive Changes for Passengers with Timetable Change on Deutsche Bahn"[6] "Seat Reservation Pricing on Deutsche Bahn"[7] "Newsletter Sign Up: Top Concerts, Exclusive Competitions, and Insights into Larissa Lannert Live"
- The steep rise in train reservation costs for families, combined with the subsequent elimination of family reservations, could significantly impact the lifestyle and finance of travel-enthusiast families who rely on train travel for long-distance journeys, as each seat must now be paid for individually per family member.
- On the other hand, the German Railway Company's decision to abolish family reservations and increase seat reservation prices could also have implications for businesses, as increased travel expenses could lead to additional costs for companies that frequently send employees on long journeys by train.
