As of: March 7, 2024, 6:15 p.m
By: Laura Hindelang
Comments
Press
Split
What may sound like a nightmare to many train travelers is pure freedom for 17-year-old Lasse Stolley: thanks to Bahncard 100, he lives on Deutsche Bahn trains.
Lasse Stolley was just 16 years old when he “swapped his permanent residence for a Bahncard 100,” as he writes on his blog.
After graduating from secondary school, the teenager had actually planned to train as an IT specialist.
But the company that had promised him a training position canceled.
Lasse Stolley then decided to give up his childhood room and live on Deutsche Bahn trains from then on.
With the Bahncard 100, a thousand kilometers through Germany every day
Since then, the now 17-year-old has been traveling through Germany as a digital nomad, covering around 1,000 kilometers every day.
He lives, works and sleeps on the train.
He “had to do a lot of convincing” with his parents, Lasse Stolley tells
Business Insider
.
At first they weren't comfortable with the idea that their underage son would move out and travel across the country alone.
In August 2022, the teenager finally left his home in Schleswig-Holstein and went on his first trip.
“I love traveling, especially traveling by train,” writes Lasse Stolley on his blog.
Life on Deutsche Bahn gives him the freedom to decide where he wants to go at any time.
Lasse Stolley has now covered over 500,000 kilometers.
This corresponds to twelve orbits of the earth.
© Lasse Stolley
Whether mountains, big cities or the sea – the teenager has already traveled to numerous destinations in Germany.
He often stops in tourist regions, for example on the island of Rügen or at the Zugspitze, he tells
Business Insider:
“I often go on short hikes there, because exercise is pretty much anchored in my everyday life.” He is also taken with the capital “ Berlin is simply magical because it is a diverse city.
It’s easily accessible for me and there’s always something to see,” said Lasse Stolley.
Safety at Deutsche Bahn is the biggest problem
He first had to get used to life on the train.
One of the biggest challenges is sleeping, the teenager reports on his blog.
At first he could hardly sleep at night, but kept dozing off during the day.
What happened to every train traveler happened to him: he missed trains and got stranded late and in the dark at strange train stations.
In the meantime, Lasse Stolley has settled into first class when traveling on trains - and has adapted his rhythm to the few night ICEs.
“With a little practice, you can sleep pretty well on these trains,” he writes.
However, security at stations and on trains is a problem.
A lot of things are stolen on night trains, the 17-year-old tells
Business Insider
.
There is a lack of sufficient security personnel to prevent thefts, violence or rowdy passengers.
Apart from that, he really likes life on the rails.
The teenager buys food in the supermarket - or he serves himself free of charge at the buffets in the DB lounges at larger train stations.
He also washes his clothes in the lounge sinks.
He goes to public swimming pools to shower.
Most of the money goes towards his Bahncard 100, he tells
Business Insider
.
At the youth price, the ticket cost 5,888 euros.
In addition to the cost of food, there are also entrance fees to museums or swimming pools - and for his minimalist equipment, which quickly wears out.
The 17-year-old only travels with a 36-liter backpack, a handful of clothes, a pillow, a blanket and his laptop.
This is particularly important for him.
My news
Perfect for a day trip: Ten of the most beautiful German small towns
ADVERTISEMENT
Off to the art summer in Vienna! read
Travel provider FTI in financial difficulties: How secure are bookings? read
Into the mountains with the stroller: Six beautiful tours for the whole familyread
“Tourists, go home”: Locals in Tenerife protest against holiday reading
Skiing until spring: Five areas that are guaranteed to have snow - and don't read far away
You don't want to miss any news and tips about vacation and travel?
Then sign up for the travel newsletter from our partner Merkur.de.
Lasse Stolley works as a software developer for an IT startup in app development.
“A job that I can do from anywhere and at any time using just my laptop,” he emphasizes in his blog.
In the future, he would like to advise the railways on service and safety, he tells
Business Insider
: "My wish would be to give feedback to the transport companies, for example Deutsche Bahn or the train manufacturers, and to be compensated for it."