<strong>Passenger discovers – How long one can really sit in the DB on-board restaurant</strong>

A journey with Deutsche Bahn sometimes feels like a short vacation in the onboard restaurant – comfortable, perhaps with a snack, without a reserved seat. But how long can one stay there if they haven't ordered or reserved a seat? According to the current statement from Deutsche Bahn, there is no minimum consumption requirement. Guests are allowed to stay as long as the limited seating availability permits – with the request to act considerately, especially towards those who actually want to consume something.travelbook.comSure! Please provide the text you would like to have translated.

No fixed time limit, but social responsibility.

An internal house rule, as it is often presented in forum discussions, specifies the usual conduct: The onboard restaurant is open to all travelers – including those without reservations or orders. However, it is not considered a place for prolonged stay without consumption. Those who occupy the area for the entire journey without actually eating or drinking are in violation of the informal rule.reddit.comTrain attendants will decide on a case-by-case basis whether guests should vacate their seats if they are needed by other passengers who wish to consume.travelbook.comPlease provide the text you would like me to translate from German to English.

An employee reports in an online forum about lived tolerance: There is no time limit in the onboard restaurant as long as one behaves like a guest. However, it is clear that users who only intend to take a seat will be politely addressed if there is a need.reddit.comPlease provide the text you would like me to translate from German to English.

Editorial opinion – Comfort meets consideration

For our travel-loving reader, the following applies: Those who just want to take a short break, enjoy a small snack, and act considerately can use the onboard restaurant as a relaxing place. However, especially during busy train times, a sense of awareness is required. The onboard restaurant is not a lounge and not a storage space – it is a service area with limited capacity.

If you are traveling for a longer period and are hardly willing to consume, it's advisable to choose either a standard seat – preferably with a reservation – or to make a short visit to the onboard restaurant, ideally combined with an actual meal.

The practical question remains: How does the train company respond specifically? In situations with high occupancy, the staff decides flexibly and based on the current situation whether seats need to be made available again.