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First get on and buy the ticket later from the conductor - that is something that short-term train customers have to get used to.

From next year onwards, paper tickets will no longer be sold on long-distance trains.

If you get on spontaneously, you have to book your ticket quickly on your laptop or cell phone, ten minutes after departure.

The railway is thus relocating another service to the Internet.

Train attendants don't feel good about it - but passenger representatives do.

"Not a big loss," says the Pro Bahn passenger association.

"According to our observation, this is mainly used by business people who don't care about money and who have two cell phones with them," said honorary chairman Karl-Peter Naumann.

These customers could easily redeem it online.

Most of the other customers booked early because they want the so-called Spar- und Superparpreis tickets.

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Because if you book on board, you only get the comparatively expensive flex price.

Plus 17 euros on-board surcharge.

In 2016 the hammer price was 7.50 euros.

However, the railway deliberately increased the fee in order to push back the purchase from the conductor, as those responsible explained at the time.

Passengers should book more mobile phone tickets and train attendants should have more time for service.

Passengers can still buy a ticket on the train

“Buying tickets on board should become easier, cheaper and more digital,” the Deutsche Bahn now advertised.

The railway and transport union thinks the decision is wrong.

“We have always advocated an open system that gives long-distance travelers the opportunity to spontaneously choose the train as the ideal means of transport,” emphasized the union.

Deutsche Bahn refers to the expansion of the online ticket, which will be valid from April 2021.

"Spontaneous long-distance travelers will continue to have the option of buying a ticket on the train."

If you want to buy a ticket on the train from 2022, you have to do it on your laptop or mobile phone - ten minutes are left after departure

Source: pa / Flashpic / Jens Krick

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According to Deutsche Bahn information, fewer than one percent of tickets have been sold on the train in recent years.

In any case, tickets for local public transport operated by Deutsche Bahn and the S-Bahn must be purchased before the journey.

Only with rail competitors in regional transport are there still some purchases from the conductors.

"That costs a lot of time that is missing for other service tasks," said passenger representative Naumann.

"Answering questions about connecting trains is more important than selling tickets."

However, each lane requires a fallback level in the event that the purchase online or at the machine does not work.

"We demand that the train attendant then records the data and that the train sends an invoice later" - without "increased transport charges", of course.

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With the purchase of the card from the conductor, passengers do not have to have any further routine contact with staff.

For some time now, they have been able to register themselves on the train with the so-called convenience check-in and avoid checking their cell phone ticket.

Before the Corona crisis, around every second ticket was bought online.

The union calls for a broad campaign about the change.

All passengers must be informed in good time and comprehensively.

Otherwise, conflicts are to be feared if unsuspecting passengers wanted to redeem the train staff after the deadline.