German Railways Abandons Family Reservation, Raising Fares for Passengers
German Railways, the country’s national railway operator, has announced that it will discontinue the family reservation option, effective June 15. The move has been met with dismay by the passenger advocacy group Pro Bahn, which warns that the change will disproportionately affect families.
According to Pro Bahn’s chairman, Detlef Neuss, the abolition of the family reservation will result in a significant increase in fares for families. “It will be twice as expensive for families. This is unacceptable, it’s a bad move” Neuss told the Rheinische Post.
Under the new system, all passengers, including children, will be required to pay the full price for a seat reservation, which will lead to a substantial increase in costs for families. Neuss expressed concern that the change may prompt families to reconsider their travel plans, potentially opting for a car ride to visit their grandparents instead.
Pro Bahn is urging the railway operator to reconsider the decision and return to the previous pricing structure, if possible. The organization is also calling on the government to take action, as it believes the Bund, Germany’s federal government, has a responsibility to oversee the railway’s operations. In the event that the Bund fails to take action, Pro Bahn suggests that the government may need to increase its subsidies to the railway to maintain the previous pricing structure.
Currently, the family reservation in the second class costs 10.40 euros for up to five people. Once the family reservation is discontinued, the price for a single seat reservation in the second class will increase from 5.20 to 5.50 euros, resulting in a total cost of 27.50 euros for a family of five.