Families can once again book Deutsche Bahn’s family ticket starting today. For €99.99, return travel on IC or ICE trains from November 1, including seat reservations, is possible.
Quick overview
This report is primarily relevant for rail travelers because it can have concrete implications for planning, connections, or infrastructure. The focus is on Deutsche Bahn, the family ticket, long-distance transport, ICE, IC, tickets, and Germany. The key points are summarized compactly below.
Key points
- The family ticket will be permanently offered and applies to travel from November 1.
- €99.99 covers return travel on IC or ICE trains as well as seat reservations.
- Up to five people travel together in second class; a single journey costs €59.99.
- The offer is independent of the relationship between travelers, but may sell out on heavily booked connections.
- In summer, according to Deutsche Bahn, almost 100,000 more families traveled by rail than in the same period the previous year.
What this means for travelers
For travelers, it is worth taking a closer look at the period, route, and booking conditions. It is important to determine whether the report already triggers concrete timetable changes or initially describes a political or strategic development.
Context
Deutsche Bahn discontinued its family reservation in 2025. Previously, families could reserve up to five seats together for €10.40; since then, a reservation for each seat has been subject to a separate fee. In response to the criticism, the company initially offered a temporary family ticket in summer.
What to watch now
- Check concrete timetable or construction notices only once travel dates have been set.
- Allow more generous connection times for international journeys.
- Monitor the source and operator information in case dates are still provisional.