Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger (CDU) is advocating for the restoration of the family reservation system that Deutsche Bahn abolished. Speaking to the newspapers of the Funke Media Group, Bilger stated that the government is currently in discussions with the railway company about the matter. This push comes after the minister had previously criticized the original decision to scrap the scheme. Bilger noted that the removal of the family reservation has rightly caused significant dissatisfaction.
Deutsche Bahn ended the family reservation system in June 2025. Previously, families could reserve up to five seats together for the flat rate of 10.40 euros. Since the change, individual pricing applies to each seat, which can substantially increase travel costs for families. This decision generated massive criticism from political figures and passenger advocacy groups, leading to a petition started by the German Transport Club that garnered more than 128,000 signatures for the system’s return.
While supporting the push for the reservation’s reinstatement, Bilger acknowledged that Deutsche Bahn does offer many beneficial options for families in general.
