With gasoline prices spiking after the Iran war and the global oil crisis, many travelers are choosing trains for their Easter holiday. Deutsche Bahn is witnessing a huge surge in ticket sales and is responding with special services.
“In Germany, trains run over Easter. I’m pleased that more people are booking than expected – surely the high fuel prices are a factor” said Deutsche Bahn chief Evelyn Palla to “Bild am Sonntag”. A spokesperson added that long‑distance bookings on certain days are in the double‑digit percent range above expectations, with the Berlin‑Cologne, Berlin‑Munich and Frankfurt‑Cologne routes being the most sought after.
According to an Insa survey commissioned by “Bild am Sonntag”, more than a third of respondents (36 %) have reduced their Easter plans because of the high petrol cost, while 23 % are keeping their original itinerary.
To accommodate the surge, Deutsche Bahn is adding capacity from the weekend. “We are running additional trains toward Sylt, the Black Forest and Lake Constance” Palla said. For Sylt, more IC services, even direct from North Rhine‑Westphalia, will be in operation. Passengers heading to Lake Constance can now use a new direct ICE from Cologne to Konstanz. From April 2, Austrian Railjet will operate the “Adria‑Express” from Munich directly to Rimini and Ancona.
Despite the increased services, the operator warned that certain days – Good Friday, Easter Friday and Easter Monday – are “almost packed”. Palla suggested that travel outside peak times still offers free seats and cheaper tickets, for example on Easter Saturday or Easter Sunday. The rail network will also be under construction during Easter, with works on lines between Leipzig and Halle, around Hannover, and between Frankfurt and Fulda. Additionally, buses will replace trains on the route between Baden‑Baden and Freiburg.
