The possibility of reinstating family reservations on Deutsche Bahn (German Rail) appears to have been shelved, at least for the immediate future. Following a recent debate surrounding the transportation budget, Social Democratic parliamentarian Uwe Schmidt proposed revisiting the issue, sparking renewed discussion within the Bundestag.
Schmidt, chair of the federal financing committee, advocated for the return of family reservations during the budget deliberations, a suggestion which was met with applause from his party colleagues. However, a spokesperson for Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) declined to comment on Schmidt’s proposal, indicating the matter would remain under the purview of Deutsche Bahn’s internal operations. The ministry’s stance reflects a previous clarification from the Minister, suggesting he intends not to intervene in decisions relating to operational business within the rail company.
Deutsche Bahn eliminated family reservations several years ago, requiring parents travelling with children on long-distance routes to purchase individual seat reservations to ensure they can sit together. This change has been accompanied by price increases for these individual reservations, potentially adding up to €17.10 per direction. The move has drawn considerable public reaction, with numerous petitions currently holding nearly 170,000 digital signatures calling for the reintroduction of the family reservation system. Deutsche Bahn maintains that it remains a family-friendly provider despite the policy change.