Your ICE monthly pass gets 25% cheaper from 21 October
Deutsche Bahn is cutting the price of monthly passes for long distance commuter routes by 25 percent. The new prices apply from 21 October 2026. At the same time, the rail operator is scrapping the annual subscription for these route passes, so monthly passes will only be sold without a subscription from now on.
The change affects commuters who travel the same route by ICE or Intercity, as well as pupils with long distance monthly passes. According to Deutsche Bahn, close to 10,000 people currently use monthly passes or annual subscriptions on these routes, and all of them are set to pay less than before. On the Frankfurt to Mannheim route, a monthly pass without a subscription falls from €375.60 to €281.70, a saving of €93.90. On the Augsburg to Munich route, the difference is €79. The cut does not apply to the Deutschlandticket, which covers local and regional transport.
Families also get a permanent new offer. After a test over the summer, the family ticket returns for good. It can be booked from 26 October, for journeys from 1 November. A return trip in second class on long distance trains anywhere in Germany costs €99.99 and a single trip €59.99, with seat reservations included. It covers up to five people: one adult with up to four children, or two adults with up to three children, and at least one child must travel. Tickets are tied to specific trains and only a limited number are sold.
What you can do: because the passes no longer run as a subscription, you only pay for the months in which you actually commute, for example not during your holidays. Before buying, compare the new monthly price for your route with a BahnCard 100 or multi journey tickets. Families planning trips in November should book from 26 October, as the number of family tickets is limited.