How much will train travel cost in Germany in 2024: It's no secret that the cost of living has been on the rise lately, and Germany's state railway operator is the latest in a series of companies to announce price increases.
Related topic: What will change in Germany in December 2023
Train fares in Germany in 2024
Flex tickets, which allow passengers more flexibility in choosing their routes, will see a 4.9 % increase this year.
With a Flex ticket, passengers can board any long-distance train on the day of travel and have more rights to cancel reservations. This is in contrast to Saver and SuperSaver tickets, which restrict passengers to specific services at certain times of the day.
In an email sent to customers informing them of the decision, DB explains that this is influenced by high inflation.
"Like many other companies, Deutsche Bahn is also experiencing the impact of the overall price increase, for example, in the energy sector", the company writes. "However, unfortunately, we cannot fully compensate for it".
This year will also see an increase in the prices of the Bahncard 25 loyalty card. Instead of 59.90 euros for a full year, the railway card will cost 62.90 euros. The cost of a three-month card will increase from 36.90 to 39.90 euros. For pensioners and other beneficiaries, the annual Bahncard 25 will now cost 40.80 euros instead of 38.80 euros.
Bahncard 25 provides holders with a 25% discount on train tickets, including Saver and SuperSaver tickets.
When will the new prices take effect?
The new prices will take effect on December 10, when another schedule will also come into effect. This means that until December 9, inclusive, all trips can be booked at the old prices, even if you are booking a trip on the new schedule.
In other words, if you are planning a Christmas trip, it might be worth booking tickets now before prices start to rise.
The new schedule includes night trains between Berlin, Brussels, and Paris, more frequent high-speed trains between Berlin and Munich, Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as new services in the east of the country between Leipzig, Nuremberg, and Jena.
Another change with the introduction of the new schedule will be the elimination of restaurant cars on long-distance trains (but not ICE trains), as announced by DB on Tuesday. Snack trolleys will be used instead in long-distance trains.
Will there still be affordable options?
Certainly, yes. Popular Saver and SuperSaver tickets, which account for 80% of tickets sold by Deutsche Bahn, will remain available at the current prices.
This means that people who book tickets in advance or choose suitable trains can travel one way for as little as 17.90 euros or only 13.40 euros with a Bahncard 25 or 50. For Saver tickets, the price will remain at 21.90 euros or around 16.40 euros with a Bahncard.
According to Deutsche Bahn, new offers for seniors will soon appear on the market, allowing people over 65 to get an additional discount of 2 euros on Saver and SuperSaver tickets.
Another significant change is that the Cityticket, an additional service allowing travel on local transport at the destination, will now only be available for Flex tickets. Previously, a Saver ticket could be purchased with a Cityticket at a discounted price.
In addition, the state railway company is temporarily reintroducing short-distance tickets, allowing passengers to enjoy the comfort of an ICE train for less than ten euros.
Until March 31, 2024, a number of one-way tickets for long-distance trains can be purchased for only 9.90 euros - or 7.49 euros with a Bahncard. Tickets can be booked up to 180 days in advance, but hurry, as only a limited number of tickets are available.
Deutsche Bahn reports that popular routes, such as Augsburg - Munich, Stuttgart - Ulm, Dresden - Leipzig, Cologne - Dusseldorf, Frankfurt - Mannheim, and Hamburg - Bremen, are included in the offers. In many cases, traveling on an ICE train is cheaper than on a regional train.
DB introduced its attractive offer for the first time in June of this year - shortly after the launch of the 49 euro ticket.
With the Deutschlandticket, which allows unlimited travel on local and regional trains throughout Germany, the railway operator is trying to attract customers to more expensive ICE trains - mainly through significant discounts.
How to find out when cheap tickets will be available?
Unfortunately, it's hard to say, but it's worth trying to book tickets as early as possible and see what time of day you can travel, as prices often fluctuate significantly.
According to Karl-Peter Naumann, chairman of the Pro Bahn passenger association, one reason why prices seem unclear to passengers is that Deutsche Bahn ties its tariffs to a number of factors, including the popularity of services in the schedule.
By offering different prices, the railway primarily wants to control demand and better distribute the capacity, Naumann explained in an interview with Tagesschau. This is why fully booked trains on Friday evenings cost significantly more than on Tuesday afternoons when almost no one is traveling.
"In the end, passengers benefit from this", he explained.
Related topics:
Despite the rising cost of living and high inflation affecting many companies, including Deutsche Bahn, the popular Saver and SuperSaver tickets for train travel in Germany will still be available at current prices in 2024, offering affordable options for travelers. However, the annual Bahncard 25 loyalty card and Flex tickets will see an increase in price. Life in Germany for travelers may still offer affordability with the availability of these discounted tickets.
With the new schedule coming into effect on December 10, 2023, it would be beneficial for individuals planning a Christmas trip to book tickets ahead of time before prices start to rise. As Deutsche Bahn continues to explore new offers for seniors, such as an additional discount of 2 euros on Saver and SuperSaver tickets, travelers may still find affordable options in Germany.
