Germany’s state-owned rail operator DB is freezing prices on long-distance service4s for the next year, starting today—an unusual move considering rising fuel and energy costs.
But the announcement by the company’s CEO, Evelyn Palla, also comes at a time when Germany’s rail system is undergoing many delays, often caused by long-postponed maintenance and has Europe’s worst on-time record, so it may also help play a role in a sort of ‘charm offensive.’ Palla linked the decision to DB’s ongoing restructuring and to a broader aim of ensuring that people in Germany can continue to afford to travel.
The announcement came along with the regular release of new timetables, often the occasion also for announcing price increases. The freeze applies to ICE, IC and EC services, the major intercity and international services that carry about 136 million passengers a year. It does not cover regional lines, mostly operated by DB under contract, but most regular passengers on those lines use the €63 a month Deutschland subscription ticket.
