Deutsche Bahn is undergoing personnel changes and facing scrutiny over the discontinuation of family reservation benefits, while simultaneously scaling back various services for children and their parents – a move largely unnoticed by the public.
Since 2003, a collaboration with the railway mission provided accompaniment for unaccompanied children, celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2018. This service, known as “Kids on tour” has now been quietly discontinued. While the service, frequently used by separated parents, wasn’t widely publicized, it facilitated approximately 100,000 bookings over 15 years, with demand steadily increasing. A Bahn spokesperson, Susanne Schulz, stated the service is currently “under review” and further details will be released once a solution is determined.
Alongside this, onboard childcare in long-distance trains has been significantly reduced in recent months. Currently, specifically trained childcare staff offering crafts, games, face painting and storytelling are only available on 24 long-distance connections on Sundays. Schulz confirmed the offering is “regularly adjusted”, but declined to specify when the reduction occurred. In 2017, the company publicly advertised childcare staff on 3,000 trains annually – equivalent to over 57 per week, more than double the current provision.
Families have also faced increased costs for reservations since mid-June. Furthermore, technical issues within the reservation system are creating difficulties. The system currently allows reservations in family compartments without requiring a child be present. Conversely, parents with children may be automatically assigned seats in “quiet zones”, potentially leading to conflicts with other passengers.
The Bahn acknowledges these technical issues. Schulz stated the company aims to refine the automatic seat assignment process to better accommodate individual passenger needs and is working to prevent non-family passengers from reserving seats in designated family areas.
Legally, family compartments are reserved for passengers traveling with young children and must be made available when needed, even without a prior reservation. This information is detailed in the transport terms and conditions (Section A6.1) and noted on passenger tickets, according to the Bahn.
Despite these changes, the company maintains it remains the most child-friendly rail operator in Germany and Europe, with children and young people aged 14 and under continuing to travel free on long-distance trains when accompanied by an adult. The Bahn reports that nine million children benefited from this policy last year – a 50 percent increase compared to a decade ago.
