Deutsche Bahn has launched a week-long sale, offering discounted tickets for less than 20 euros each way. But you've got to move quickly, as the offer is limited to 1 million tickets!

Deutsche Bahn launch ultra-cheap train ticket sale

Deutsche Bahn tickets for high-speed InterCity Express (ICE) trains are often pricey. If customers are lucky, they are sometimes able to nab a ticket for the long-distance trains at a reduced price with Deutsche Bahn’s super saver ticket, which costs just 17,90 euros. 

On Tuesday it was announced that the German transport company has launched an end-of-year campaign for their 17,90 euros super saver tickets. Over the course of the next week (until November 15), Deutsche Bahn will release 1 million extra super saver tickets for customers.

The 17,90-euro tickets will be valid in second class carriages for one-way journeys within Germany. Accompanying children up to 14 years old will be able to travel for free and, if you don’t mind incurring an extra charge, you can also upgrade super saver tickets to first class, which include a seat reservation.

Whether passengers will be able to use the offer on their return journey ticket depends on the number of seats sold and time of travel. If it is possible to use the deal on return journeys, a weekend trip between Munich and Hamburg could cost as little as 35,80 euros both ways.

However, the super saver ticket will not be valid for all ICE connections, particularly popular routes will cost more. Bargain hunters are also more likely to get themselves a super saver ticket - which can be booked on the Deutsche Bahn site a maximum of 180 days in advance - if they select a journey which will be taken earlier in the morning or later in the evening. The offer is only available until the 1 million available tickets are sold out.

Given the savings possible, it is likely that the 1 million tickets will sell out before the November 15 deadline. For those who miss out, the Egal-Wohin-Ticket (No-Matter-Where-Ticket) is another option for saving. In July, Deutsche Bahn announced that it had teamed up with German supermarket Edeka to offer the ticket, which allows the holder to book a single trip anywhere within German borders for just 39,90 euros. And unlike the 9-euro ticket, it is valid on both long-distance trains like ICEs, ICs and ECs and regional trains.

Deutsche Bahn faces increasing competition from FlixTrain

The popularity and expansion of FlixTrain and FlixBus in recent years means that Deutsche Bahn is facing more competition than before. After FlixTrain considerably expanded its routes in May this year, including adding a connection to the Swiss city of Basel, the company has been making greater effort to present itself as a significant competitor.

While Deutsche Bahn is infamous in Germany and surrounding countries for its delayed services, FlixTrain has recently been eager to point out that it includes passenger seat reservations in its low-cost ticket fares, a luxury not afforded to Deutsche Bahn customers.