Deutsche Bahn launches flat-rate summer pass to combat travel costs and delays
Deutsche Bahn has introduced a new flat-rate summer travel pass to ease the impact of rising energy costs. The scheme aims to help passengers manage soaring fuel and kerosene prices during the holiday season. CEO Evelyn Palla stressed that the offer should give everyone in Germany the chance to travel this summer.
The pass will be available for booking from mid-June and remain valid until mid-September, covering the Bavarian school holidays. The rail operator has also expanded its last-minute ticket scheme since 9 May. These tickets, starting at €6.99, fill empty seats on long-distance trains. The flat-rate pass extends this flexibility by allowing up to five people to travel together.
Punctuality remains a major challenge for Deutsche Bahn. Currently, fewer than 60% of long-distance trains arrive on time—a sharp drop from 2020, when eight out of ten ICE services ran as scheduled. Palla acknowledged that fixing these issues will take time, with no immediate solution in sight.
To provide financial stability, the company has frozen ticket prices for the next twelve months. This move follows a broader effort to halt the decline in service reliability while keeping travel affordable for passengers. The summer pass and price freeze come as Deutsche Bahn works to address ongoing delays and improve operations. The company has set a clear goal: stabilise punctuality and offer passengers more predictable travel options. The measures will remain in place through the peak holiday period.
