Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday travel in Germany: Deutsche Bahn has launched a pilot of the advanced virtual assistant Kiana at Flughafenbahnhof Berlin Brandenburg (BER) station. As one of the country’s busiest transport hubs, BER handles between 70,000 and 95,000 passengers daily. Kiana helps travellers choose the best train ticket, advises on routes and fares, and guides them to quick online purchases. The test started on 7 August 2025, with the service available Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 15:00. More details can be found on G.business, citing the Deutsche Bahn.

How Kiana works – Deutsche Bahn’s new smart tool

The Kiana station consists of a large touchscreen with a camera, microphone, and speakers. The passenger provides their destination, number of travellers, and additional details such as a child’s age or route preferences. The AI (Künstliche Intelligenz) processes the information, asks follow-up questions, and suggests the most suitable ticket — standard, promotional, or discounted. After the conversation, Kiana generates a QR code linking directly to the DB Navigator app or the bahn.de website for instant purchase.

Why BER is the testing ground

Berlin Brandenburg Airport is a major transport hub connecting domestic and international flights with the German rail network. The Flughafenbahnhof BER station is located directly beneath Terminal 1, allowing passengers to move seamlessly from plane to train. Testing Kiana here enables Deutsche Bahn to evaluate its performance under high passenger volumes and with a diverse, multilingual user base.

Project partner opinions

  • Carmen Maria Parrino (DB Vertrieb): “Kiana supports customer service without replacing it – especially in international hubs where multi-language support is crucial.”
  • Detlef Tabbert: emphasises that the solution improves service accessibility and promotes eco-friendly rail travel.
  • Ute Bonde: highlights that fast access to schedule and fare information improves the travel experience.
  • Aletta von Massenbach (BER): “Kiana helps reduce queues and streamline passenger flow at one of Germany’s busiest stations.”

If the pilot is successful, Deutsche Bahn plans to deploy similar stations at major German railway hubs, including Munich, Frankfurt, and Hamburg. This will allow travellers to find the best connections and purchase tickets quickly without waiting in line.

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Photo: DB