Deutsche Bahn Introduces Supervised Rail Service for Kids Travelling Alone

Deutsche Bahn (DB) has introduced a new service designed to make solo train travel easier and safer for kids. From August 21st, children aged between six and 14 will be able to travel unaccompanied on selected long-distance routes under the supervision of trained staff as part of the new DB Junior Express programme.

The service, available initially on six ICE connections between Berlin and Munich, Munich and Cologne, and Frankfurt and Hamburg, is aimed at families who have children that need to travel independently, whether to visit relatives, spend time with separated parents or attend holiday activities.

How it Works

Parents or guardians can book the service through the DB website or the DB Navigator app up to 24 hours before departure. The fee is €69 one way, plus the cost of a child's train ticket. Unaccompanied children between six and 14 receive a 50 percent discount on standard and saver fares.

Background

The launch marks the return of a concept some families may remember. Between 2003 and 2021, DB and the Bahnhofsmission railway station charities operated the Kids on Tour programme, which accompanied nearly 100,000 children travelling alone. That service was discontinued in 2021 following financial challenges and disruption during the Covid-19 pandemic.

For more information on travel in Germany, see our guide to Germany's top destinations and how to watch the Perseid meteor shower.