Petition Urges Deutsche Bahn to Reinstate Family Seat Reservations
A petition signed by nearly 128,000 citizens has urged Deutsche Bahn (DB) to reinstate family reservations. The German Automobile Club (VCD) launched the campaign, criticising DB's abolition of the rule that allowed parents to reserve seats for their children at no extra cost. VCD chairman Matthias Kurzeck described the move as a 'strong signal' that DB's service policy is flawed.
Until mid-June, families could reserve as many seats as needed for their children at a flat rate. However, DB abolished this rule, leading to increased costs for families. Now, a family of four must pay an additional 44 euros for seat reservations on a round trip. The change has drawn criticism from associations and politicians, including Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder (CDU). Schnieder had previously published an 'Agenda for Satisfied Rail Customers', which DB has failed to implement. Kurzeck noted that reinstating family reservations could be the first step in fulfilling this agenda. DB and the Ministry of Transport are now considering this suggestion, with a potential reinstatement in December.
The petition, handed over to DB along with the signatures, highlights the public's dissatisfaction with the abolition of family reservations. With the Ministry of Transport's support, DB may reinstate this rule, addressing a significant concern for families who rely on long-distance travel.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
 - Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
 - Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
 - Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.