Deutsche Bahn anticipates a significant influx of customers during the upcoming holiday period. Michael Peterson, the Executive Board member for long-distance passenger transport, informed “Der Spiegel” that the company plans to introduce special offers targeting families traveling to holiday destinations both within Germany and in neighboring countries. Peterson noted that increased demand was already visible, citing a 10 percent rise in bookings on certain days.
He attributed the expected surge partly to external factors, such as rising fuel costs and growing uncertainty regarding the reliability of travel by car or plane. In this context, Peterson emphasized the railroad’s role, stating that the company is “the anchor of stability for mobility in the country”.
Adding to the preparations, Chief Executive Officer Evelyn Palla had recently announced that long-distance fares would remain stable through April. Currently, the rail system operates at a 40 percent capacity. However, the company has the ability to add a second train section to the existing routes, which would instantly increase available seats by 450-a capacity Peterson estimated was equivalent to three medium-haul flights.
The German rail carrier is also benefiting from changes in the aviation sector. According to reports from “Spiegel”, Lufthansa had reportedly contacted Deutsche Bahn. While the airline is set to cancel 20,000 short-haul flights, further cancellations, particularly among domestic routes, may follow.
Already a longstanding partner between the rail and aviation groups, Deutsche Bahn also highlighted its ability to transport feeder passengers, serving key travel corridors such as connecting Hamburg to Frankfurt or Berlin to Munich.
