German Rail Pass Expands Coverage for Long-Distance Trains in Brandenburg
Starting this Friday, the Deutschlandticket for local public transportation in Germany will also be valid on certain long-distance routes in Berlin and Brandenburg. The Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association (VBB) has struck a deal with Deutsche Bahn's long-distance branch (DB Fernverkehr) to make this possible. Specifically, holders of the 49-euro monthly ticket can now use it on the IC connections Berlin Hbf - Elsterwerda and Potsdam Hbf - Cottbus, as well as the ICE connection Berlin Südkreuz - Prenzlau at no additional cost. However, the ticket does not apply to all long-distance trains in the region.
The Germany-wide Deutschland Ticket is valid for regional trains (RE, RB, S-Bahn), subways (U-Bahn), trams, buses, and ferries. Despite its widespread application, it has never covered long-distance trains operated by Deutsche Bahn or its competitors, such as FlixBus. Negotiations between Deutsche Bahn and the VBB regarding an exception for connections in Brandenburg and Berlin have lasted for months.
The new agreement means that the Deutschlandticket will now include some long-distance train routes in Berlin and Brandenburg, significantly affecting rail traffic in the area. However, it's important to note that the ticket does not cover all long-distance trains, potentially affecting some consumers.
Enrichment Insights:
The Deutschland Ticket originally excluded long-distance trains in Berlin and Brandenburg, specifically not covering ICE, IC, and EC trains, which are high-speed and long-distance trains operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB Fernverkehr) and other private operators like FlixBus. The ticket is valid for regional trains (RE, RB, S-Bahn), U-Bahn (subway), trams, buses, and ferries but does not include long-distance travel options. The expanded coverage under the new agreement is limited to regional public transportation services, not long-distance trains.
