Deutsche Bahn (DB) is preparing for a predicted surge in customer numbers during the upcoming holiday season. Michael Peterson, the executive board member for passenger long-distance transport, announced to “Spiegel” that the company is developing special offers aimed at families traveling to holiday destinations both within Germany and in neighboring countries. These positive trends are already evident, with the company noting an increase of 10 percent in bookings on certain days.
According to Peterson, rising fuel prices and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding travel methods-whether by car or by air-are positively impacting demand for rail services. In response to news that Lufthansa planned to cancel 20,000 short-haul flights, the manager confirmed that his team was ready to adapt to the situation, stating, “We are the anchor of stability for mobility within the country”.
Adding to the stability narrative, CEO Evelyn Palla had already announced over the weekend that long-distance fares would remain constant until April of next year. Operationally, the current utilization rate of the network stands at 40 percent. To accommodate greater traffic, DB can augment existing long-distance train services by adding an entire second train unit, which would instantly boost available seating capacity by 450 seats-an amount Peterson likened to three short-haul flights.
The cooperative relationship between the rail and aviation sectors was highlighted, particularly after reports indicated that Lufthansa had sought contact with the railway giant. In addition to the initially scheduled cancellations, further short-haul flights, primarily domestic ones, might be scrapped. DB reinforced its value by promising to continue transporting connecting passengers, facilitating routes such as Hamburg to Frankfurt or Berlin to Munich.