Critics from the government denounce proposed railway schemes
Renewed Frustration Over Scrapped Family Reservations on German Trains, Potential Impact on Governing Coalition
Displeasure towards Deutsche Bahn's decision to eliminate discounted family seat reservations is escalating, even within the ruling coalition of Union and SPD. Steffen Bilger, the first parliamentary business manager of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, expressed concern, stating, "Abolishing family reservations recklessly risks further damage to the railway's image."
Affordable Rail Travel Requires Family-Friendliness
The move targets those heavily reliant on affordable mobility and seat reservations. Bilger insisted, "Rail travel must be family-friendly. To attract more individuals to the railway, family-friendly incentives need to be strengthened, not cut."
Pleading for a Change in Heart
Matthias Miersch, head of the SPD parliamentary group, hoped for a reconsideration of the decision, saying, "I hope there will still be a change of heart. The railway should not believe it can simply afford such price increases."
Railway Determined to Carry On, Spite of Criticism
Despite mounting criticism, the state-owned railway remains firm on its decision. A spokesperson confirmed, "Family reservations will no longer be available from June 15." However, children and adolescents up to and including 14 years of age can continue to travel without charge when accompanied.
Trimming Family Reservations
The announcement on Tuesday signaled that family reservations would be phased out as of this Sunday. Decked with additional costs, seat reservations in second class will now cost 30 cents more, standing at 5.50 euros, and in first class, they will increase by 40 cents to 6.90 euros[1][2].
Skyrocketing Prices for Families
For families, traveling with reserved seats will become a substantial financial burden. Previously, a family reservation for second class would total €10.40; now, the expense doubles to €22 for each one-way journey, amounting to €44 for a round trip[1][2].
Consumer organizations and travelers have criticized this alteration, arguing it undermines the appeal of train travel for families compared to other means of transport[1][2]. The repercussions could extend to the political sphere, potentially harming the governing coalition's reputation if it is perceived as implementing policies that escalate costs for families. However, there's no current information suggesting direct discontent within the coalition over this specific issue.
Meanwhile, the German government grapples with other controversial issues, such as immigration policy reforms and crackdowns on migration, which may exacerbate broader political tensions[4][5]. However, these matters are distinct from the specific concerns about Deutsche Bahn's family reservation policy.
The proposed changes in Deutsche Bahn's family reservation policy might stir disapproval in the political sphere, as it could be perceived as escalating costs for families, potentially impacting the governing coalition's reputation. The concern remains that this policy-and-legislation development in the realm of politics might be contrary to general-news expectations of affordability and family-friendliness in rail travel.
