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A Deutsche Bahn ticket machine at Lutherstadt Wittenberg main station
Photo: Jan Woitas / dpa
Train travel is becoming more expensive again.
Deutsche Bahn announced that it will increase long-distance ticket prices
by one percent
on December 13th
.
By group information, the rise
Flex prices
to
an average of 1.5 percent
and the
system time cards
and the
web card 100
to
an average of 1.9 percent
.
The
super saver prices
and
saver prices
remained the
same
.
The two
BahnCards 25 and 50
will also be
available
for the
same price
for the sixth year in a row
.
The railway reminded us that prices had dropped by ten percent at the beginning of the year.
The reason was a VAT cut.
The company added that the number of seats and comfort in the intercity and ICE trains will be increased.
The price increase is "moderate" from the railroad's point of view.
Even after the increase, the prices were "still below the previous year's level", according to a statement by the group.
Consumer advocates criticized Deutsche Bahn
The head of the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv), Klaus Müller, criticized the price increase sharply: "On the one hand, the company will receive a five billion cash injection from the taxpayer this year. On the other hand, the trains are getting less and less punctual, there are few Goodwill for customers, the railway fails with digitization. "
He complained that the railway "is now asking the most loyal customers to check out by making flex prices, route tickets and the Bahncard 100 more expensive".
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bah / AFP / dpa