As of: March 15, 2024, 5:59 a.m
By: Victoria Krumbeck
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The railway wants to be more digital and do without plastic cards.
The consumer advice center warns against the exclusion of certain groups of people.
Kassel – Anyone who has a BahnCard 25 or BahnCard 50 can save money when traveling with Deutsche Bahn – provided the railway employees do not go on strike.
Now the railway has announced a big change in the summer.
From June onwards, it will no longer send plastic cards and will only make the BahnCard available digitally.
According to Bahn, this decision should primarily benefit the climate, but the consumer advice center criticizes the step.
Bahn discontinues plastic BahnCard – criticism from consumer advice center
The change for BahnCard 25 and 50 will take place on June 9th, as the railway informed its customers.
Travelers who have a Deutsche Bahn customer account can already access the BahnCard in the Bahn app or on the bahn.de platform.
In the coming months, all holders will have to gradually switch to the online card.
The railway wants to discontinue the BahnCard 25 and 50 plastic cards from June 9th.
© Photomontage Westend61/Imago/Michael Kappeler/dpa
If you don't have a smartphone, you can print out a replacement document.
“Valid BahnCard 25/50 plastic cards can continue to be used until the expiry date printed on them,” says the railway.
The plastic card remains for the BahnCard subscription 100.
Criticism of plastic BahnCard-Aus: “Excluded from the discount option”
The change, which was announced last year, has been criticized by the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (vzbv).
“It is annoying that Deutsche Bahn wants to exclude customers who do not have digital access from tariff advantages,” said Ramona Pop, board member of vzbv, in a statement published on Thursday (March 14).
Not everyone would already use the digital subscription.
BahnCard subscription |
Price per year/2nd class |
Price per year/1st class |
|---|---|---|
BahnCard 25 |
62.90 euros |
125.00 euros |
BahnCard 50 |
244.00 euros |
492.00 euros |
BahnCard 100 |
4,550.00 euros |
7,714.00 euros |
“With Deutsche Bahn’s announcement that it will only offer the BahnCard digitally, people without digital access will be excluded from the discount option.
Customers who use their data sparingly and do not want to have a customer account everywhere are also excluded,” the vzbv continues.
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No more plastic BahnCard cards?
Consumer advice center demands BahnCard for everyone
“The alternative valid paper printout must also be accessible to people without a digital customer account, for example by being handed out at the travel center.
Free of charge, of course,” said Pop.
The association calls for the BahnCard to be available to everyone.
According to Deutsche Bahn, around 84 percent of all tickets in long-distance transport are now booked digitally.
Since last summer, BahnCard holders have needed an email address.
According to Deutsche Bahn, around 30 tons of plastic could be saved per year by eliminating the analogue card.
However, the railway also wants to change something in its digital offering.
A popular app where customers can buy their €49 ticket will soon no longer be available.
(vk/dpa)