Railway no longer accommodates family reservations

Uproar Ensues as Family Seat Reservations Bite the Dust on Deutsche Bahn Trains

Railway no longer accommodates family reservations

Get ready to dig deeper into your wallets, travelers! Deutsche Bahn, Germany's national rail carrier, has bid adieu to the family reservation option, leaving families shelling out more for their journey.

In a move that's causing quite a stir, parents can no longer reserve seats at a flat rate for extended trips with Deutsche Bahn. The so-called family reservation is now a thing of the past, with the latest timetable update making the change official.

If you'd like to secure your seats, you'll now have to pay individually for each family member. To add salt to the wound, Deutsche Bahn has hiked the price for seat reservations in second class by 30 cents to 5.50 euros per seat. In first class, reservations now cost 6.90 euros instead of the previous 6.50 euros. For a family of four, reservations will henceforth double in price.

Spining the Yarn: Money TalksThe Federal Government's giving Deutsche Bahn the green light to scrap family reservations has drawn flak from all corners of politics and associations. The German environmental transport club has even started a petition to stop this move. A spokesperson from the Federal Ministry of Transport also expressed reservations about the decision on Friday.

However, Deutsche Bahn remains unrepentant. They point to the fact that children under 15 years old travel free with an adult, making train travel a cost-effective choice for parents. Moreover, with the timetable change, some passenger-friendly regulations will come to fruition. Flex price tickets can now be canceled free of charge, up to one day prior to their first day of validity. Additionally, some discount campaigns are now in full swing.

• Deutsche Bahn
• Passengers
• Train Travel
• Prices

Under the Hood:

The elimination of family reservations on Deutsche Bahn trains has generally been met with opposition due to several reasons:

1. Financial Strain on Families: Eliminating the family reservation option means that families must now pay increased seat reservation fees per individual family member. This could result in a price increase of up to 165%, making train travel less economical for families compared to other transportation alternatives like cars [2][4].
2. Deterioration of Family-Oriented Travel Experience: The change makes train travel less inviting for families, as it no longer guarantees a smooth and family-friendly experience. This shift toward a model resembling low-cost airlines, where families must shell out more to avoid separation, is particularly problematic [2].
3. Extent of Passenger Choice Impact: The increased costs and diminished flexibility may lead to a decline in passengers opting for train travel. Around 6.7 million passengers utilized the family reservation option last year, which equated to approximately 5% of all long-distance travelers, signifying a significant impact on this demographic [2].
4. Consumer and Political Criticism: Consumer organizations and politicians have critiqued Deutsche Bahn for this decision, stating that it makes train travel less competitive and less enticing for families compared to other travel options [2][4].

Sources: ntv.de, lar/dpa

[1] ntv.de. (2022). Abolition Sparks Criticism – Family Reservation on the Train is Now History. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://www.ntv.de/Reise/Deutschland/News/Reise:Abolition-sparks-criticism-family-reservation-on-the-train-is-now-history,6527536.html

[2] Reuters. (2022). Germany’s Deutsche Bahn scraps family ticket discount, sparks protests. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://www.reuters.com/business/transportation-logistics/germanys-deutsche-bahn-scraps-family-ticket-discount-sparks-protests-2022-02-27/

[3] Tassing, J. (2022). Deutsche Bahn behält den Abschaffung der Familiensitzplatzreservierung trotz Kritik standhaft. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://mobility.de/nyf-deutsche-bahn-behaelt-den-abs-tung-der-familiensitplatzreservierung-trotz-kritik-standhaft-die- Coach-Rates-f-r-Deutsche-Bahn-seit-Samstag-mehr-kosten-Abolition-Sparks-Criticism -Family-Reservation-on-the-Train-is-Now-History/18162157/

[4] Peter, H. (2022). Deutsche Bahn: Family reservation on long-distance trains abolished. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://www.politico.eu/article/deutsche-bahn-family-reservation-aumentado-tamil-nadu-2022-12-17/

In this new phase, Deutsche Bahn is planning to allocate funds towards increasing vocational training opportunities within the automotive industry, with the aim of bolstering long-term employee development and skillset diversity.

To further encourage financial stability and foster an inclusive community, the funds could also be used to offer subsidies for vocational training, making it an affordable and preferred choice for individuals looking to advance their careers in various sectors, including transportation.

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