German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has announced it will increase ticket prices for long-distance trains from December 12, 2021, to compensate for inflation.  

Deutsche Bahn raises price of tickets

The largest train company in Germany announced on Friday that it would increase the cost of long-distance train tickets by an average of 1,9 percent from mid-December. The increase does not affect the price of so-called Super-Saver (Super-Sparpreis) and Saver (Sparpreis) tickets, which will remain unchanged at 17,90 euros and 21,50 euros, respectively. 

However, the cost of all Flex (Flexpreis) and route season tickets will rise by an average of 2,9 percent. Deutsche Bahn also announced that it would increase the price of its Bahncards 25 and 50 - which allow holders to buy train tickets at discounted rates - by 2,9 percent. This is the first time the price of Bahncards has gone up in seven years. 

Coronavirus crisis has put pressure on German rail

The company said that the price hike - the largest since 2012 - was necessary to compensate for inflation, but that it was still a relatively moderate adjustment, remaining well below the current inflation rate of around 4 percent. “In a long-term comparison, rail travel remains cheap,” Deutsche Bahn said in a statement, pointing out that the cost of a long-distance trip will be about the same as in 2012. 

In 2020, as part of a government-funded initiative to encourage train travel over driving or flying by slashing the VAT rate, ticket prices in Germany fell by 10 percent. However, low passenger numbers during the coronavirus pandemic, issues with international business, and ailing infrastructure are all continuing to place a heavy financial burden on Deutsche Bahn. The company posted a loss of 1,4 billion euros in the first half of 2021 alone. 

Nonetheless, the company’s goal remains to double the number of long-distance rail passengers by 2030 compared to 2015. This should help Germany achieve its climate goals in transport.