Deutsche Bahn Plans 3.5 Percent Price Hike

Germany's national rail company confirmed Friday it would like to raise regional ticket prices by 3.5 percent. "The rising energy prices affect regional traffic as well," a spokesman said, referring to the Bahn's decision Thursday to raise prices for long-distance trains. Electricity, gas and diesel cost the Bahn about €1.5 billion ($1.8 billion) a year. The new prices aren't in place yet, since Germany's 16 states, which pay to help maintain regional train tracks, must approve regional ticket price hikes. The Bahn alone decides on long-distance ticket prices. A spokesman would not comment on the validity of rumors that some long-distance trains would be cut, forcing passengers to use the company's more expensive high-speed ICE rail service, the Financial Times Deutschland reported. Regional ticket prices increased last winter by 4.1 percent, long-distance prices went up in the spring by 3.4 percent.