High energy costs and rising inflation will also make traveling by ICE more expensive from December. While Deutsche Bahn is defending the hefty surcharges on tickets and Bahncards, consumer advocates call the step “bitter”. After all, the trains are less punctual than they have been for a long time.
Deutsche Bahn increases the prices for long-distance travel in December by an average of almost five percent. The group justified the step with the high inflation, especially with the rising energy costs. Consumer advocates spoke of a “bitter” step – in addition to the general price increases, consumers would now face “further burdens”.
The prices for a flex ticket alone will increase by an average of 6.9 percent on December 11, as reported by the railway. The Bahncards 25, 50 and 100 and the route season tickets are also becoming more expensive – by an average of 4.9 percent. The entry-level prices remain the same for the super saver price from EUR 17.90 and for the saver price from EUR 21.90. Seat reservations also continue to cost EUR 4.50 in second class and EUR 5.90 in first class.
The group justified the step with the high inflation. Germany is currently experiencing the “highest price increases in 50 years”. The railways are also affected by this, for example due to rising energy costs. Like many other companies, Deutsche Bahn is now “forced to react to the massive price increases by adjusting prices”. At an average of 4.9 percent, the price increase remains “well below the current inflation rate” of around eight percent.
For regional transport, an average price adjustment of four percent was announced at the beginning of September. The new prices will apply from December 11, when the timetable will change. All offers in the new timetable can be booked from October 12th.
The chairwoman of the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (vzbv), Ramona Pop, described the rail price increases as “bitter”. “In addition to the general price increases, long-distance travel with Deutsche Bahn will be significantly more expensive from December,” she told AFP. “Even though Deutsche Bahn trains are less punctual than they have been for a long time.”
With rising rental and energy costs, more and more people are already unable to pay for mobility, Pop continued. However, mobility should not “become a luxury good”. It is therefore important that an affordable successor solution for the nine-euro ticket comes as soon as possible. The vzbv calls for a uniform, nationwide valid 29-euro ticket.
