Deutsche Bahn is making its Super-Sparpreis a Super-Super-Sparpreis. Instead of 19.90 euros, the price of the ticket begins January 1 at 17,90 euros. "We want to promote the railway as an environmentally friendly and attractive means of transport," a spokesman said. Previously, the "Bild" newspaper reported on it.
As early as September, Deutsche Bahn had announced that it would lower the price of all long-distance tickets by ten percent - provided that there is a tax cut that the German government has announced in its climate package. This is supposed to get more people into the train instead of the car or plane. It is not yet certain that the tax cut will take effect on the New Year.
The super-saving price should now sink regardless of in any case, as the train announced. With Bahncard customers then pay for the cheapest ICE ticket 13.40 euros.
The railway had also announced in September that the usual price increase at the timetable change in mid-December this year fails. A ten-percent reduction for all long-distance tickets is to follow, if the Treasury even for distances over 50 kilometers only seven instead of the regular 19 percent VAT required.
Bahn: With tax cut five million more passengers
Bundestag and Bundesrat are not yet in agreement on the plan of the Federal Government. The Conciliation Committee of the Parliament and the State Chamber discusses how federal and state governments deal with revenue shortfalls. In order for all long-distance transport fares to drop as early as 1 January, a decision in the sitting of the State Chamber on 20 December is necessary.
"If the political decisions for this fall until just before Christmas, we can implement this on January 1, 2020," assured a railway spokesman. The Group expects then with five million additional passengers annually. The additional fare will also finance additional trains. Because especially at peak times more and more trains are crowded.
With the super-saving price, the train is piloting passengers in comparatively low-loaded trains. According to the company, last year 50 of the almost 148 million passengers had booked a special rate or a super-low price for long-distance transport.
When is the train cheapest?
According to a survey by the German Transport Club (VCD), only about five of every rail customer pays the full price, the flex price. On average, a customer pays € 12.50 per 100 kilometers in long-distance transport according to VCD calculations.
"If you commit yourself to a train a month before the trip, you can almost always get a discount price," it says in the track test of the club . On average, this is 55 percent below the flex price. For four out of five rides, a savings price is still available 24 hours before departure, but then on average only 33 percent discount - each in second class.
Those who book two to seven days in advance get the highest discounts, according to the VCD analysis for trips on Tuesday and Wednesday. Most economy tickets are available on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Even those who manage to leave before 8 am or after 8 pm have good prospects for cheap travel. The hardest thing is to get a bargain for a ride on a Friday or a Sunday.
