BERLIN — German national passenger rail operator Deutsche Bahn has dropped fares for intercity travel for the first time in 17 years, with a 10% on tickets for intercity travel of more than 31 miles (50 kilometers).
The lower fares reflect a decrease in the German government’s value-added tax on rail travel, from 19% to 7%, as part of climate-protection measures that took effect Jan. 1, the Guardian newspaper reports.
Deutsche Bahn will also lower prices on services such as the transport of bicycles.
While the long-distance fares are increasing, short-distance and transit fares are rising in many metropolitan areas.
