German Rail: Super Saver Fare not available during the day on three out of four days
The Federation of German Consumer Organisations has been monitoring train prices. The advertised "Super-Sparpreis" (super saver price) was usually not bookable during the day - instead, prices were up to 157 percent higher.
Deutsche Bahn, the German national railway, has been found to have limited availability of its Super-Saver fares during daytime hours, according to a study by consumer advocates. The most advertised deal, for second class travel between 7 AM and 7 PM, was often not available on three of every four days, with the Super-Saver prices typically ranging 15 to 157 percent above the advertised rate.
This information was obtained by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) from the Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband, which tracked prices for 23 months. The study found that the cheapest prices only matched the advertised Super-Saver fare on just one day out of every four, or even fell below it. Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband chief Ramona Pop called for the railway to simplify and make its pricing system more transparent, stating that advertised deals should be guaranteed to be available during typical travel times.
The railway criticized the study, with a spokesperson citing "significant methodological shortcomings." The investigation period from 7 AM to 7 PM excludes important commuter routes, such as Sprinter trains just after 6 AM and direct connections outside major cities.
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