Deutsche Bahn introduces seat reservations—but will it ease overcrowding?

Deutsche Bahn is rolling out seat reservations for regional trains, but the service remains limited. Passengers can now book single-journey or season reservations on selected routes. The move aims to give travellers more certainty, though it does not solve overcrowding issues.

Single-journey reservations are available for €1 per trip per passenger. These can be purchased at DB ticket machines and apply to one specific journey. Currently, the option exists in Lower Saxony/Bremen, Rhineland-Palatinate/Saarland, and Schleswig-Holstein on certain lines.

Season reservations are also on offer for commuters with subscriptions. Costing €40 per year—free in some regions—they apply Monday to Friday, with a single exception for Fridays. However, they only cover designated car sections, not the entire train, and are tied to specific connections.

A reservation guarantees a seat but does not add extra carriages or create new spaces. This means conflicts may still arise on crowded services, particularly on busy summer routes like those from Berlin to the Baltic Sea. Deutsche Bahn has not announced plans to prioritise any particular regions or routes for long-term reservations.

The new system provides some passengers with a guaranteed spot, yet it does not expand capacity. Single-journey bookings cost €1, while season reservations remain an option for regular travellers. Overcrowding on popular lines, however, is unlikely to improve under the current scheme.