DB will no longer make the DB Bahnhof live app available for download in the app stores from 31 December 2024. Instead, our barrier-free service bahnhof.de will be further developed in the interests of our customers.
With ‘S3’, DB has launched an overall programme for the structural and economic restructuring of the Group over the next three years. This also means dissolving duplicate structures and simplifying applications. In future, DB InfraGO will focus on a product to inform travellers about train stations in Germany. This will enable potential savings in the seven-figure range. DB will continue to develop the bahnhof.de website in the interests of its customers and offer new additional service functions.
Bahnhof.de has the widest reach. In contrast, the Bahnhof live app only has a tenth of the hits. That is why we are merging the two services.
Bahnhof.de: The future of travel information at the station with a special focus on accessibility
Deutsche Bahn (DB) wants to make travelling by train easy for everyone - this includes real-time travel information. This is because travellers prefer to find out online about departures, accessibility, parking, services such as Wi-Fi and lockers and lift availability. Bahnhof.de already provides a large proportion of this information. The accessible website is constantly being further developed, tailored to the needs of customers and will also offer the usual functions of the Bahnhof live app for lift availability in the future.
Bahnhof.de can be installed as a web app (so-called progressive web app) on the smartphone and can therefore be operated like an app. Detailed installation instructions can be found at bahnhof.de.
DB InfraGO will focus on one product in future. DB will continue to develop the bahnhof.de website for the benefit of our customers. With the upcoming expansion of functions, such as push notifications for changes in the status of lifts, carriage rows and train schedules, DB can comprehensively fulfil the information requirements of customers with bahnhof.de.
In December 2024, push notifications for elevator status changes and the function for displaying the coach sequence will be released on bahnhof.de. The function for displaying the journey progress will follow in the first quarter of 2025.
Bahnhof.de also specifically addresses the needs of travellers with various disabilities (e.g. blind, visually impaired, deaf, motor-impaired), older people or non-native speakers with regard to digital accessibility.
bahnhof.de can do this better than DB Bahnhof live:
- Departures and arrivals with consistent information on the displays at the station, including departures and arrivals of replacement services throughout Germany
- Digital timetables
- Interactive station map with up-to-date data
- New interfaces with higher data quality and barrier-free usability Continuous and faster further development by an eight-person project team
- Up-to-date news and information: Editorial articles about disruptions, new offers and services as well as campaigns at the stations, among other things
Information offered by bahnhof.de
The website bahnhof.de provides information on around 5,700 railway stations throughout Germany.
- Real-time departure information: Bahnhof.de provides a complete overview of all arriving and departing trains at the selected station, including time, track and train number and replacement services. Real-time updates provide information about any delays or changes.
- Improved orientation: Interactive maps and site plans allow you to find your way quickly and easily even before you arrive at the station.
- Up-to-date news: In the form of editorial articles, bahnhof.de provides comprehensive information about relevant disruptions, new offers and services as well as promotions at the stations.
- App: Bahnhof.de can be installed on smartphones and can therefore be used as an app. Detailed installation instructions can be found at bahnhof.de.
Helpful functions for people with mobility and sensory impairments:
- Station facilities: Bahnhof.de provides a comprehensive insight into the facilities at railway stations. Among other things, the website provides information on whether lifts exist and work at the individual stations and the extent to which the individual platforms are accessible. The website also provides users with information on whether toilets, lockers, a travel centre or parking spaces are available, among many other features.
- Information and services on site: Bahnhof.de provides contact information and service times for central contact points at the station, e.g. for DB Information for questions about the station or travel, for the mobility service, the DB Travel Centre for ticket purchases, advice and reservations for wheelchair spaces and seats or the station mission.
- Contact options: The website bahnhof.de offers travellers and visitors a wide range of contact information. In addition to details of the station team for questions or feedback on the stations, users can also find information on the mobility service for registering assistance for their journey. bahnhof.de also provides details for contacting the 3-S control centre, which ensures service, security and cleanliness at the stations.
- Voice output: The information on the website can be reproduced acoustically using a screen reader.