From 15th December, Deutsche Bahn (German Railways) will be totally changing it’s fare system. There will be advantages for some travellers but also disadvantages for others, including many Eurotrippers.

First and foremost, the "TwenTicket" (Under 26 domestic reductions) and "Guten Abend" Tickets will be abolished.

"Schönes Wochenende" and the weekday "Länder" Tickets are NOT effected.

The standard price for standard journeys will be basicly the same but degressive, dropping by about 10% on the long Munich-Hamburg run for example).

You can get discounts by booking in advance:
1 day 10%
3 days 20%
7 days 40%

BUT:
You have to pick FIXED trains.
The number of discounted tickets for each train is limited, as low as 10% of the places on popular trians (Friday afternoons for example).
For the 20% and 40% discounts you have to book a return ticket of over 100 km each way.
If you change your plans or miss your train you can’t just upgrade the ticket but buy a new one and cash in your old one. Fee for cashing in unused ticket is up to EUR 45 !

Families and Groups do well from the changes. Groups (from 2 people) get discounts eg. Buy 2 tickets pay for 1,5 and children go for flat rates or even free.

Bahn Card in future will give 25% further discount on all tickets and costs EUR 70 /year.

I doubt very much whether the whole discount / pre booking system will be available at stations outside of Germany.

The point of the changes is for the railway to win passengers from cars and planes for long distance journeys and to win more family passengers. Also of course to extract money from people who reguarly travel on their own and spontaneously (me )