Deutsche Bahn issues first railcards digitally only
The new Deutsche Bahn timetable comes into effect on December 10. This means more services, but also higher prices. At the same time, Deutsche Bahn is also making another change: the abolition of the plastic Bahncard.
In future, Deutsche Bahn wants to issue the BahnCards, which are intended for frequent travelers, only digitally and dispense with the plastic version. Initially, plastic trial BahnCards 25 and 50 will no longer be issued from this Sunday's timetable change. The changeover of the annual products is planned for the second half of 2024, but customer feedback will be taken into account for the concrete design of the digitization process, said a DB spokeswoman.
Deutsche Bahn's new timetable has been in force since this Sunday. It offers more services, particularly on the routes between Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia and between Berlin and Munich, thanks to additional long-distance connections, as announced by Deutsche Bahn. Tickets for the new timetable have been available since October. However, with the timetable change on Sunday, higher fares will also apply. The so-called Flextickets will then cost an average of 4.9 percent more.
"A digital Bahncard saves a lot of plastic"
The trial BahnCards 25 and 50 are each valid for three months. The company justifies the abolition by stating that experience has shown that the target group is "very digitally savvy" and that the validity period is also short until a successor card made of plastic is required. "That's why we have decided to no longer offer an analog alternative," said the spokesperson. According to DB, 5.1 million Bahncards are issued each year. "A digital Bahncard saves a lot of plastic," said Stefanie Berk, Head of Marketing at DB Fernverkehr. In addition, unlike in physical form, the card cannot be forgotten or lost once it has been uploaded to the DB Navigator smartphone app.
With a BahnCard, passengers receive a 25 or 50 percent discount on ticket purchases, depending on the option, while a Bahncard 100 allows free travel on all trains. According to DB, 60 percent of Bahncard customers already use the digital form of the maps in the DB Navigator app.
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Deutsche Bahn's digital BahnCards are not limited by physical constraints, making them more environmentally friendly compared to traditional German railroad cards. Moreover, with the International Rail ticketing system, Deutsche Bahn customers can utilize their digital BahnCards for international travel, expanding their travel opportunities.
Source: www.ntv.de
