Outrage Over Family Travel Costs: German Rail Abandons Affordable Seat Reservations
- by Tobias Schmitz
- ⏱ 2-minute read
German Railways places family bookings on hold. - For booking family trips: Deutsche Bahn moves to a separate track.
Hear the buzz about German Rail's low prices? "Super Sparpreis!" But don't count on them for last-minute, family travel. Hopping on a quick trip with the clan from Hamburg to Bremen? Here's the shocker: four travelers, including grandma, grandpa, and their two big kids cost 410 euros with a Flexpreis, coming from their Sparpreis boasts. Now, let's throw some numbers at a rental car for the same journey, including petrol: a meager 120 euros - and that's with a comfy sedan!
So, why ride the rails? For one, the upcoming removal of family reservations makes it downright expensive for every passenger to secure a guaranteed seat. Ridden with the new timetable, German Rail strips away reserved seats for multiples, forcing each individual to cop a reservation - at 5.50 euros (second class) and 6.90 euros (first class), higher than the previous 30 cents! With four folks on board for a singleton's one-way fare, the price tag soars up to 22 euros - a whopping 116% hike compared to the past! Travel unreserved? Forget it; it's distress for families and no alternative amidst underutilized second-class trains.
Now, let's weigh the implications. Green motives, environmental concerns, and family support all take a backseat. The rail company's and government's priorities? Not so clear.
Budgeting for a green transport shift? Not high on the agenda. Protecting the planet? Meh, not high either. Backing families, particularly the financially disadvantaged? Seems like it's not high on that list, either.
Why's the federal government powerless in dictating German Rail's pricing policy? Fine, fine. But imagine if they exerted some pressure? Could've made a difference.
Unfortunately, the cruddy rail service quality is another beast entirely, but let's push that aside for now. Let's not forget the age-old dilemma: Poor service + high prices → Satisfied customers? Simply doesn't compute. "Kids, why don't we go by car to grandma's house?" "Because we're daft!"
- German Rail
- Pricing Policy
- Family Travel
- Green Transportation
- The community is expressing concerns about German Rail's pricing policy, particularly in relation to family travel, as the removal of reserved seats for multiple travelers has led to a significant increase in the cost of reservations, making it financially burdensome for families.
- As a result of German Rail's new policy, budgeting for green transportation and supporting families, especially those financially disadvantaged, has experienced a decline in prioritization.
- Despite the removal of affordable seat reservations for families, the federal government appears to have limited influence in dictating German Rail's pricing policy, and questions are being raised about the rail company's and government's priorities regarding environmental concerns and family support.
