Next DB Navigator: What Can Deutsche Bahn's App Do?

June 15, 2023, 10:03 am | Read time: 4 minutes

Yes, train journeys can be lengthy and exhausting, especially when connections don’t run smoothly. However, thanks to the “DB Navigator,” you usually knew how much you were delayed, whether you’d catch your connecting train, or if there were track changes and altered train compositions. Deutsche Bahn now plans to replace this trusty helper with an entirely new app.

“With Next DB, we’re making our IT sales systems fit for the digital future of travel.” With these words, Deutsche Bahn introduces its new app. And who could benefit more from a touch of future-readiness than Deutsche Bahn? However, the so-called “Next DB Navigator” isn’t entirely new: The app has been available for download on Android and iOS since October 2022. Yet, not all functions have been developed to date. TECHBOOK reveals what the new train app can do and whether you really need it.

The Technical Future of Deutsche Bahn

The new app is intended to be simpler, faster, and more intuitive. Its predecessor, the DB Navigator, actually performed quite solidly. Deutsche Bahn does not provide a detailed explanation for why a completely new app is necessary. The app is part of Deutsche Bahn’s “future sales systems,” which also include the website next.bahn.de.

In the long term, next.bahn.de and the Next DB Navigator are set to replace the current website bahn.de and the DB Navigator. According to Deutsche Bahn’s plans, this will happen in the first quarter of 2024. This means these so-called Next systems will fully take over the roles of the two old platforms. Currently, both websites and apps are still running in parallel, and Deutsche Bahn plans to announce in advance when it will deactivate the old DB Navigator and bahn.de. Sooner or later, customers will have to switch to the new app, but it’s worth considering the timing of the switch carefully.

Advantages of the Next DB Navigator

The new app incorporates the existing functions of the Navigator but also offers some new applications and thus advantages.

the existing customer account can still be used
the essential functions are expected to work as usual (especially ticket bookings, seat reservations)
continue to collect BahnBonus points (don’t forget to check “Collect BahnBonus Points” when booking tickets)
new: Ticket and invoice can now be separated (different recipient and billing addresses possible)
new: available in German and English
new: Dark Mode

While the design is described as more modern, it essentially does not differ from the user interface of the previous DB Navigator. For commuters, the “Save Favorites” function could be helpful, where frequently used connections can be stored.

Read also: What You Need to Know When Buying an Electric Car

Disadvantages of the Next DB Navigator

However, there are also some disadvantages that the new app–especially at present–brings with it.

not all functions are available yet
tickets booked in the DB Navigator or on bahn.de cannot yet be transferred to the Next DB Navigator
tickets booked in the Next DB Navigator or on next.bahn.de cannot be transferred to the old DB Navigator

Deutsche Bahn has announced that missing functions will be gradually added. In such cases, you must either resort to next.bahn.de or the old DB Navigator. The transfer of tickets is a particularly central function that is still pending. Once it is set up, there are two options:

with login: You will be able to access your tickets via the “My Trips” tab and “Show Orders.” Alternatively, you can find the ticket through “Search Order” using the order number and the last name of the traveling person.
without login: Under “My Trips” and “Search Order,” you can access your ticket by entering the order number and the last name of the traveling person.

Update 24.1.0 Deutsche Bahn Revamps App: What the New DB Navigator Can Do

Planned Changes DB Discontinues App: What Users Need to Know

When Is the New App Worth It?

Overall, the parallel use of the Next DB Navigator and the old DB Navigator can lead to some complications. Therefore, a clean and complete switch to the Next DB Navigator is recommended as soon as all relevant functions are available there. The website next.bahn.de is also not yet equipped with all functions. For example, tickets for the VBN, VRT, and VVW networks are only available as mobile tickets in the Next DB Navigator.

Sources

Deutsche Bahn: “Highlights and Functions in the Next DB Navigator” (accessed on 06/14/2023)
Deutsche Bahn: “Frequently Asked Questions about next.bahn.de” (accessed on 06/14/2023)

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TECHBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@techbook.de.