Deutsche Bahn is introducing discounted last-minute tickets for long-distance travel, adding a new pricing option for passengers who book close to departure. The German rail operator says the move is designed to make spare seats on its long-distance services easier to fill.

The offer applies to selected trains and is aimed at travellers who can be flexible about when they travel. It comes as rail operators across Europe continue to look for ways to increase occupancy and attract passengers who might otherwise choose other transport.

The company has not yet said how many seats will be available under the discounted scheme or which routes will be included. It has also not provided a start date in the material available.

Last-minute rail discounts are common in aviation, but they are less familiar on long-distance trains in some markets. For Deutsche Bahn, the move could help lift demand on services that still have unsold capacity shortly before departure, while also offering cheaper fares to spontaneous travellers.

The policy may also appeal to leisure passengers making short-notice city breaks, as well as business travellers whose plans change at the last minute. In a market where rail fares can vary sharply by route and booking time, any extra flexibility can be a draw.

Deutsche Bahn has faced persistent criticism in recent years over punctuality, overcrowding and service reliability. Against that backdrop, any initiative that promises lower fares is likely to be watched closely by passengers and competitors alike.

The wider European rail sector has been trying to balance revenue management with the push to get more travellers on trains rather than planes or cars. Last-minute discounts can help operators sell capacity that would otherwise go unused, but they also need to avoid undermining advance-purchase pricing that often brings in the most revenue.

For travellers, the key question will be whether the discounts are meaningful enough to justify waiting until the last minute. If the fares are limited to a small number of seats, the new option may be best suited to those prepared to move quickly when tickets appear.

More details are expected once Deutsche Bahn sets out the full terms of the scheme, including which trains qualify and how deep the discounts will be. Until then, the offer signals a modest but potentially useful shift in how the operator sells long-distance travel.