Berlin. The announcement by Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla that long-distance rail fares would remain stable for a year starting May 1 due to the energy crisis has been dismissed as insufficient by the passenger advocacy group Pro Bahn. The organization's honorary chairman, Detlef Neuß, told the Rheinische Post (Monday): "The railway must cut prices—at least for a set period."

Deutsche Bahn freezes long-distance rail fares for one year amid energy crisis

Neuß added that, given the frequent delays and widespread cancellations, simply pledging not to raise fares was not enough. "A price hike would be completely unjustifiable in the current situation," he said.

He also noted that long-distance ticket prices vary by route and demand. "We don't have fixed fares," the expert explained. "It remains unclear how much the decision to freeze prices will actually affect these dynamic costs."