Overview

• The Oberlandesgericht Frankfurt ruled on July 11 that Deutsche Bahn may not require email addresses or phone numbers for Sparpreis and Supersparpreis tickets.
• The court determined that a rail ticket serves only as proof of payment and cannot be tied to personal data disclosure.
• Deutsche Bahn must keep paper Sparpreis ticket sales at staffed counters, although automatic machines still do not dispense them.
• The Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband’s successful lawsuit emphasized consumer rights against digital-only sales policies.
• Deutsche Bahn continues to recommend customers provide an email address to receive updates on platform changes or delays.