Every day, when Lasse Stolley, a teenager from Germany, opens his eyes from sleep, he’s greeted with a changing landscape outside his window. On some mornings, it’s the dazzling view of the Baltic Sea, on others, the snow-dusted Alps. This constant change of view is a result of his unique life aboard German high-speed trains. Currently 17, Stolley has become a known figure in Germany for his extraordinary train travels.
Sitting in a café near Berlin’s central station, the young traveller enthusiastically shares his travel log. Since he embarked on his rail journey in August 2022, he has covered about 600,000km – the equivalent of 15 round trips of the Earth. For Lasse, the greatest appeal is not being tethered to any single location and enjoying the liberty that comes with it.
This is quite a shift considering that until two years ago, he hardly ever left his native town in Northern Germany, let alone travel by train. His parents were initially concerned about his travelling plan, given his lack of travel experience. However, they are now content, noticing the positive transformation in their son and the relationships and experiences he has garnered on the way.
A key aspect of Stolley’s journey is the BahnCard 100, a season ticket that allows unlimited travel on the German rail system. Initially, he purchased the annual second-class youth ticket for €2,600 but has since upgraded to a first-class ticket priced at €5,888.
Even though there is a rising trend of night trains in Europe that offer passengers proper beds, Stolley’s ticket only permits him to use regular overnight trains run by Deutsche Bahn, the national rail company of Germany. Over time, he has become adept at selecting quieter trains and locating vacant carriages. Using a sleeping bag, he would comfortably sleep even in the luggage area of the railway carriage. He recounts one instance when an unaware passenger dropped a microwave on him while he was sleeping.
Now sleeping on trains has become so familiar for him that sleeping in his old bed occasionally causes him to wake up with a cramp in his neck.
Lasse no longer requires earplugs or his air bed, having efficiently streamlined his belongings. Initially travelling with a rucksack of 60 litres, he has now reduced it by half. Ultimately, his goal has always been minimalism, which he claims frees up more of his time to appreciate the splendour of life.
As for the best rail route in Germany? In Lasse’s opinion, the most picturesque is the segment that crosses the Rhine vineyards from Frankfurt to Cologne, where trains can reach speeds of up to 300km/h. The ride, he describes, is akin to a high-speed rollercoaster.
The current state of train travel in Germany, plagued with significant delays due to years of underfunding, isn’t as enjoyable as it used to be. Lasse, however, maintains a philosophical perspective on the situation. He feels that while Germans “love to moan,” there are sizable investments being made to improve the railways. He also points out that most trains are still running on schedule, thus there is no reason for motorists to complain over a few minutes delay.
At times, the 17-year-old rail enthusiast seems to be speaking on behalf of Deutsche Bahn, the national railway company. Some even suggest that they should sponsor his yearly train ticket, as transporting a sleeping teenager every night wouldn’t represent a significant expense, and in return, they receive quite a bit of favourable publicity. Lasse, however, just smiles at this suggestion. Despite his travels costing Deutsche Bahn little, he has all three meals of the day in the company’s first-class lounges in stations—the simple fare of fruit, focaccia, soup, and pizza being sufficient for the tall teenager.
“I believe they fear others might follow my footsteps,” he says, indicating that the law in Germany necessitates Deutsche Bahn to permit unlimited travelling.
Lasse’s partner shares his passion for trains. After two years of constant travelling, he’s prepared to purchase another BahnCard 100 and complete a few more eco-friendly circuits. He could rent an apartment, but as he puts it, “Why? I’m not lonely and I have friends everywhere.”
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