How Deutsche Bahn encourages dog owners to drive
Dogs are actually allowed to travel on Deutsche Bahn trains. The emphasis is on “actually”. Because the regulations for taking a dog with you are so complicated and absurd that one might think that Deutsche Bahn would rather encourage dog owners to drive a car. A comment.
If you want to travel with Deutsche Bahn and take your dog with you, you need strong nerves. Because the regulations for taking a four-legged friend with you are so bureaucratic and absurd that many people would probably prefer to drive.
A dog ticket can be booked online, but can only be delivered by post. Of course, at an additional cost and with a corresponding waiting time – according to the train at least three to five working days. Alternatively, you can only book at a DB machine or counter on site.
Deutsche Bahn and dog: bureaucratic and absurd!
The problem: A dog ticket is based on the current fare. It costs half that. So far okay. But: If you want to book at short notice or live in the country, you are often in a fix, because there are no DB machines or counters there. But the later you book, the more expensive it gets.
But why can’t you order a dog ticket online with your own ticket and print it out or save it as a PDF? Deutsche Bahn doesn’t seem to know that either.
Official reason: Because a dog cannot identify itself. I beg your pardon? But he can’t do that either when buying tickets at the counter or from a machine. Not to mention the ticket purchase by post – by the way, shipping costs: a mere 5.90 euros. Most of the dogs have both names and documents – for free!
A dog travels unaccompanied as a child
But it gets even more absurd. According to Deutsche Bahn, a dog is officially considered a child between the ages of six and 14 who “travels unaccompanied”. Dogs that travel independently but cannot identify themselves. You can’t imagine that! But at least:
Small dogs and other small pets (up to the size of a house cat), which are harmless and housed in closed containers (e.g. animal boxes), may be taken on national transport free of charge.
But: “This box has to fit under the seat or on the shelf above the seat. It doesn’t belong in a seat.”
So there is no seat for the hairy child between the ages of six and 14 – which is understandable for hygienic reasons – but: Anyone who has ever traveled with Deutsche Bahn knows that there is only space for a hamster there, including the box.
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