Deutsche Bahn launches escort service for unaccompanied children

Deutsche Bahn is launching a new escort service called ‘DB Junior Express’ for children aged 6 to 14 traveling alone on long-distance ICE trains. Starting August 21, the service will initially operate on Fridays and Sundays on six specific routes: Berlin–Munich, Munich–Cologne, and Frankfurt–Hamburg, in both directions.

Under this service, a maximum of 14 children will be accompanied by two pedagogically trained staff members in a reserved area of the train. The program includes activities such as reading, board games, and crafts. To ensure safety, guardians hand children over to staff at a central point in the departure station, and staff personally hand them over to designated collectors at the destination.

The service costs 69 Euro per journey in addition to the child's ticket. Bookings can be made via the Deutsche Bahn website or the DB Navigator app at least 24 hours before departure. Michael Peterson, a member of Deutsche Bahn’s management board, stated that the service aims to provide safety and flexibility for families while offering young passengers greater independence.