Deutsche Bahn launches chaperone service for solo child travellers

Deutsche Bahn has announced a new chaperone service, DB Junior Express, for children aged six to 14 travelling independently in Germany. The programme allows families to book a Deutsche Bahn chaperone for their child, who will then travel with up to 14 other children in a designated area of the train. The chaperone service costs an additional 69 euros per child, but offers a 50% discount if parents book a standard or saver ticket for their child.

The service is currently available on six ICE connections between major cities, operating on Fridays and Sundays. Families can book chaperone services up to 24 hours before travel through the Deutsche Bahn website or DB Navigator app, starting from August 21. The new chaperone service is similar to a previous programme that ran from 2003 to 2021 due to funding issues.

Deutsche Bahn has introduced several other new services and discounts to encourage more passengers to use trains, including a Family Ticket and a last-minute offer scheme.