In an attempt to relieve people of fuel costs and convince train critics of the more climate-friendly means of transportation, Germany’s government recently reduced train tickets to €9, which applies to almost all rides in the country during the months of June, July, and August.
Nevertheless, there are a few things to consider before jumping on this seemingly undeniable offer.
The ticket is valid for all regular buses and trains that cover close and regional distances, including the regional train, regional express, interregional express, tram, and metro.
The Intercity Express (ICE) and Eurocity are not covered by the €9 ticket. The same goes for long-distance trains.
Authorities thus advise passengers to check the exact ticket requirements of each train prior to boarding.
Season ticket holders will also benefit from the temporary offer. All subscriptions active in the period between 1 June and 30 August will only be charged €9 per month.
Yearly ticket holders will get a refund, which should be transferred by beginning of September.
The ticket can be purchased on the website of the Deutsche Bahn (DB), Germany’s national railway company, in the DB app, at travel agencies, or at train stations.
The ticket is valid from midnight on the first day of the month until midnight on the last day. This means that it is not possible to buy a ticket valid for two weeks in one month and another two weeks in the following month.
The ticket only gives people access to coach seats. Children below the age of six travel for free. People still need to purchase a pet ticket if they bring a dog or cat on a train.
For more information on the temporary offer, please consult this link.
Demand for the temporarily reduced train ticket has been enormous. According to a DB statement, more than one million tickets have already been sold.
In an attempt to prevent trains from being overcharged during the summer months, DB plans on deploying 50 additional trains, which should provide standing room for 60,000 passengers. DB will also deploy more personnel and elevate the frequency of trains in popular areas during public holidays.
German cross-border employees can also benefit from the offer to cover their commute during the summer months. Since public transport has been free of charge in the Grand Duchy since 29 February 2020, Germans will only need the €9 ticket to travel to Luxembourg.
Similarly, Luxembourgers may benefit and use the €9 ticket to visit friends in Germany, take a short city trip to Cologne, Frankfurt, or Düsseldorf, or make it to the German coast.
