German Rail Discount Summer 2022

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st599_uk
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German Rail Discount Summer 2022

Post by st599_uk »

For those planning a trip that takes in Germany in June, July or August, Deutsche Bahn have launched a 9 euro ticket that covers all regional trains, U- and S-bahn, trams and busses (no ICE, Flix or Thalys) for a calendar month.
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Galactic
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Re: German Rail Discount Summer 2022

Post by Galactic »

At the risk of appearing pedantic, but in the hope of clearing up misconceptions before they arise: the 9€ ticket is a govt initiative, not DB. Practically, this means the ticket is valid on all local services, not just DB branded ones. On the timetable these trains are usually marked as RB, RE, S, U (and possibly the few IREs eg Berlin-Hamburg - you'd have to double check). Also trams and local buses. But as the OP remarked, not ICE, IC, EC, NJ, Flix or Thalys).

Bike tickets usually cost extra (depends on what region you're traveling in) and are usually about 6€ a day. However most rail providers are asking passengers not to bring their bikes because they expect trains to be overcrowded (!).
Jdsk
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Re: German Rail Discount Summer 2022

Post by Jdsk »

The DB page, but note that it says that the final details aren't known:
https://www.bahn.com/en/offers/regional ... -ticket-en

Jonathan

PS: I've told The Man in Seat 61.
st599_uk
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Re: German Rail Discount Summer 2022

Post by st599_uk »

Jdsk wrote: 26 May 2022, 2:21pm The DB page, but note that it says that the final details aren't known:
https://www.bahn.com/en/offers/regional ... -ticket-en

Jonathan

PS: I've told The Man in Seat 61.
The Bundesrat approved the deal last week, so details are now known and the tickets are on sale - I've got one for July and will probably get another for August as I'm working at some sports thing.
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Jdsk
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Re: German Rail Discount Summer 2022

Post by Jdsk »

Jdsk wrote: 26 May 2022, 2:21pm The DB page, but note that it says that the final details aren't known:
https://www.bahn.com/en/offers/regional ... -ticket-en
Updated today.

Jonathan
Jdsk
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Re: German Rail Discount Summer 2022

Post by Jdsk »

"The German coalition government of the SDP, Green Party and FDP is considering the introduction of a permanent successor to the 9-euro ticket initiative, which offers a single ticket for all local and regional trains at a reduced rate over a set period of time."
https://www.railjournal.com/policy/germ ... successor/

Jonathan
rjb
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Re: German Rail Discount Summer 2022

Post by rjb »

Is something similar about to be launched in Spain.? Anyone know the details?
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Jdsk
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Re: German Rail Discount Summer 2022

Post by Jdsk »

One of these?

"Short and medium distance train journeys in Spain will be free of charge for four months from September, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Tuesday (12 July)."

"A 50 per cent discount on Renfe train tickets was already introduced in June in an effort to help out commuters."

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2022/07 ... ndfall-tax

Jonathan
rjb
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Re: German Rail Discount Summer 2022

Post by rjb »

Thanks Jonathan, I did see it then, not just me dreaming. Come on GWR, can you trump this. :lol:
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Jdsk
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Re: German Rail Discount Summer 2022

Post by Jdsk »

"The lessons from Germany’s experiment with near-free rail travel":
https://www.newstatesman.com/world/euro ... uro-ticket

Jonathan
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MrsHJ
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Re: German Rail Discount Summer 2022

Post by MrsHJ »

Interesting read, thanks. I have also read interesting analysis on the free transport in Luxembourg. The gist seems to be that whilst good in principle more work needs to be done to get commuters out of their cars.
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Sweep
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Re: German Rail Discount Summer 2022

Post by Sweep »

MrsHJ wrote: 28 Aug 2022, 1:13pm Interesting read, thanks. I have also read interesting analysis on the free transport in Luxembourg. The gist seems to be that whilst good in principle more work needs to be done to get commuters out of their cars.
carrot and stick on the latter I think.
The article was intereresting - thanks for posting jd.
The german initiative do make Britain's railcards look rather pathetic.
Senior one £70 even at the discounted three year rate and then you are still paying substantial amounts for the tickets. Often seems to me to be as much about marketing as shifting folks to cleaner travel.
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MrsHJ
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Re: German Rail Discount Summer 2022

Post by MrsHJ »

Here is the Lux article. Written by an American source so the starting point may not be the same. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... yn9DBlbrGg

A friend who lives in Luxembourg (hopefully I’ll see him next weekend when starting my tour) said one of the problems was the transport was good in the main centres but lots of car reliance still further afield. (Difficult to imagine a less further afield than luxembourg) , what I presume they mean is that the Swiss model of branch lines and post buses connecting every village and hamlet into the larger system helps more than just making the big connections free.
Jdsk
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Re: German Rail Discount Summer 2022

Post by Jdsk »

MrsHJ wrote: 29 Aug 2022, 10:04am Here is the Lux article. Written by an American source so the starting point may not be the same. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... yn9DBlbrGg
Thanks for that.

The Wikipedia article has a list of where this has been implemented: countries, areas, cities and towns:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_public_transport

... next up: Malta on 1 October.

Jonathan
Will
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Re: German Rail Discount Summer 2022

Post by Will »

I travelled on the RE1 Hanse Express on Saturday from Rostock to Hamburg using the €9 ticket. We were fortunate that we were on the platform early and the arriving train stopped with the bike carriage right in front of us, so that we were the first on (and were able to get a seat as well). The train wasn't due to leave for about 30 minutes and in that time it just filled to capacity. By the time the train left (20 minutes late) it was absolutely jam packed with many people sitting on the stairs and completely blocking the doors (like the London Underground during rush hour). Many people were trying to get on at the subsequent stations and there were a lot of angry people who could not get on because there simply wasn't any space.

I can't say that I am a fan of the €9 ticket - there has been too many reports of similar overcrowding on many other routes.

Will
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