Deutsche Bahn Ends Draft Beer in ICE Trains, Tests Cashless Payments

Starting February 2025, the railway company will replace draft beer with an expanded bottled beer selection and trial cashless payments on select routes.

Deutsche Bahn will stop offering draft beer in its ICE train bistros from February 2025 due to declining demand, with sales dropping from 50% to 15% over the past decade.
Passengers will have access to a broader selection of bottled beers, including seven standard options and one rotating specialty beer.
A pilot program for cashless payments will run from February to May 2025 on six ICE routes, reflecting a shift as half of onboard transactions are already digital.
The company plans to evaluate the results of the cashless payment trial before deciding on broader implementation across its network.
To improve service, Deutsche Bahn will add 100 full-time positions to its onboard gastronomy team, focusing on high-demand routes.

Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung