Bahn increases prices for long-distance transport by up to seven percent

When the timetable changes in December, Deutsche Bahn will increase long-distance transport prices by an average of 4.9 percent. The prices for a flex ticket alone will then increase by an average of 6.9 percent, as the company announced on Wednesday. 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 4.50 euros in second class.

“Massive price increases”: Bahn increases prices significantly

The group justified the step with the high inflation. Like many other companies, Deutsche Bahn is “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.

The new prices apply from December 11th. For regional transport, an average price adjustment of four percent was announced at the beginning of September.

Passenger Association: Frequent drivers are not “the cash cow of the train drivers”

Karl-Peter Naumann, honorary chairman of the passenger association pro Bahn, expressed his understanding for the measure on Wednesday. “No passenger association is enthusiastic when prices rise,” he told the German Press Agency. “On the other hand, we just have to see that there are actually significant increases in energy costs.”

However, Naumann criticized the fact that the price increases mainly affected offers used by frequent drivers. “Once again, the biggest price increases are expected of the most loyal customers,” he said. “Here we finally have to think about the frequent drivers. You are not the cash cow of the train drivers.” However, the federal government is responsible for relieving the financial burden on consumers.

The left-wing member of the Bundestag Dietmar Bartsch called on Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) to stop the announced increases. “In view of the loss of control over inflation, prices on which the federal government has a significant influence must not continue to rise and put an additional burden on citizens,” he said.

Price increases are difficult to understand in the tariff jungle

When the timetable changed last December, Deutsche Bahn had already increased long-distance prices by an average of 1.9 percent at the time. It has long been criticized that such changes are difficult to track in Deutsche Bahn’s complex pricing system.

Long-distance fares generally fluctuate greatly, depending on the demand for a particular train. With higher prices at peak times and lower ones at off-peak times, the group says it wants to better control the utilization of the trains.

With the now increased flex price, passengers can usually board the train on a specific day at any departure time. The cheaper saver and super saver prices go hand in hand with a train connection.

Supervisory Board debates new railway chief controller

However, the higher fares in long-distance transport were not the only topic on the supervisory board on Wednesday. According to circles, it was also about a new chief controller who should head the panel in the future. Most recently, State Secretary Werner Gatzer from the Federal Ministry of Finance was treated as a likely candidate in media reports. Details were not initially known in the afternoon. The previous chairman of the supervisory board, Michael Odenwald, surprisingly announced his resignation at the previous meeting of the control committee in June.

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