The Taunusbahn railway line, which operates in the Frankfurt region, has announced an extraordinary measure to regain the trust of its passengers after a challenging year marked by significant disruptions.
In an effort to rebuild passenger trust after a year fraught with operational hiccups, the Taunusbahn railway line, serving the Frankfurt area, is implementing a remarkable initiative. The Rhine-Main Transport Association (RMV) announced that the RB15 line would offer free travel to all passengers for the months of April and May. This move is in direct response to the hurdles encountered since the deployment of new hydrogen-powered trains in December 2022, which saw a significant 19% of train cancellations in 2023.
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“We would like to thank you very much for your loyalty during the difficult early days of Alstom’s hydrogen trains. The Taunusbahn line RB15 was particularly affected by the restrictions and poor operating quality. We therefore invite you to rediscover the Taunusbahn free of charge in April and May.”
District Administrator Ulrich Krebs (CDU), chairman of the RMV supervisory board, acknowledged the difficulties, stating, “The start of the hydrogen trains was a complete failure.” He further emphasized the RMV’s commitment to making amends by offering free travel as a form of compensation for the inconveniences caused to the commuters of Usinger Land.
This promotional campaign, a first of its kind in Germany’s public transport system, is designed to renew faith in the RB15 service. RMV managing director Prof. Knut Ringat acknowledged the gravity of the operational issues, underscoring the commitment to improving reliability.
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Aiming to both thank loyal passengers and attract new ones, this initiative encourages travelers to give the Taunusbahn another try. All trips on the RB15 line, including direct services to Frankfurt during peak hours, will be covered under this offer.
Moreover, those holding annual tickets or subscriptions, like the Deutschland Ticket, stand to benefit with RMV promising full refunds for the two-month promotional period, equaling two payments of 49 euros. Passengers with RMV annual tickets for the Taunusbahn or similar subscriptions are eligible for a credit voucher applicable towards other state-wide tickets, barring the Hesse student ticket.
To streamline the refund process, RMV is set to distribute a 49-euro coupon for every active season ticket showcased at specific locations in Usingen and the RMV mobility center at Bad Homburg station. Eligibility for the dual coupon offer requires visits in both April and May, with reimbursements slated for July via a newly established platform.
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