Rail travel: long-distance monthly pass 25 percent cheaper, no December fare rise

Long-distance commuters on Deutsche Bahn (DB) will soon pay considerably less. From 21 October 2026, long-distance monthly passes and student monthly passes will be 25 percent cheaper, ad-hoc-news.de reported on 8 October, citing information from the railway. In return, the annual subscription is being scrapped: route season tickets will in future only be sold on a flexible basis without a fixed contract. According to the report, around 10,000 commuters who have so far used long-distance monthly passes or annual subscriptions are affected. As an example, the report cites the Frankfurt am Main–Mannheim route, where the monthly pass without subscription falls from 375.60 euros to 281.70 euros – a saving of 93.90 euros.

Occasional travellers also get some relief: according to the report, DB chief executive Evelyn Palla has suspended the regular fare increase that would otherwise take effect at the December timetable change. Ticket prices are thus set to remain stable until May 2027. From 26 October, a family ticket can also be booked, allowing up to five people to travel from 1 November. It costs 59.99 euros one way or 99.99 euros return, is available in limited numbers, tied to a specific train and includes a seat reservation.

According to ad-hoc-news.de, the rules for the Sparpreis Gruppe group fare have also been simplified since 1 October: groups can reserve for 14 days free of charge and without obligation, and the exchange or refund fee falls from 19 to 10 euros per person and booking. From 13 December, the Flexpreis fare sold at travel centres will only be issued in personalised digital form, with a printout still available on request. For regional transport, the Deutschlandticket remains the alternative: it currently costs 63 euros a month but is limited to regional transport.