A trip with Deutsche Bahn is not always stress-free. The company’s trains are often delayed, overcrowded, or even cancelled. As one user of the online portal Reddit reported that he and his family experienced an unpleasant surprise on a Sunday afternoon trip on an ICE train.
The drama began with a train delay, whereupon the father concerned decided to change to an earlier train that was also delayed.
The seat was barely reserved
The passengers who were already on the train were informed shortly afterwards via an announcement that only the rear half of the train would continue from Berlin. At that moment, the family was already sitting in the front section. “I desperately check whether you can reserve seats,” said the Reddit user.
He and his family then managed to make their way to the newly reserved seats. When they arrived at the seats secured for money in the Deutsche Bahn app, they “chased away” those who were “happily sitting there,” the father of the family continued in his text.
People thrown out of the ICE via app and seat reservation
But the chaos never ended. The ICE was overcrowded. Many passengers apparently had to get off so that the train could continue. Among them were those who had previously left their reserved seats. What was particularly annoying, the man says, was that the next train to the desired destination did not arrive for hours.
“It feels kind of stupid to have bought the ‘right to stay’ on the train with the spontaneous reservation almost after the fact (i.e. after people had intervened),” continued the man, who was asking for the opinion of the online community.
But they supported him in his decision. The father of the family would not have made the rules, the other passengers would have had the same chance of getting the seats. They could have simply booked them in the app for an additional charge if it had been so important to them.
When it comes to train travel and reserved seats, there are always disputes and disagreements. Some time ago, another traveler got into an argument with a disabled woman because she was taking a seat illegally. In the end, he gave in.