Overview

• Since June 15, the operator has replaced its €10.40 flat-rate family reservation with individual child tickets at €5.50 each, more than doubling seating costs for many families.
• CEO Richard Lutz and board member Michael Peterson justified the move in a letter to politicians as necessary to stop abuse and boost seating efficiency.
• A petition led by Verkehrsclub Deutschland has drawn over 100,000 signatures against the change, and ministers including Patrick Schnieder and Carsten Schneider have condemned it.
• Parents report they may choose car travel over trains due to the higher fees, stirring concerns about a modal shift away from rail.
• The adjustment comes as Deutsche Bahn works to recover from a €1.8 billion loss in 2024 while balancing its economic viability with public service responsibilities.