April 22, 2026, 3:54 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Ample seating or even lying down, sanitary facilities, and food service–trains operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB) essentially offer everything needed for daily life. Additionally, these mobile facilities have the advantage of transporting their “residents” to various locations, breaking the monotony of routine. One man has already decided to make DB trains his home. But is that actually allowed–can you live on a train? TRAVELBOOK found out.
Some time ago, musician Nina Chuba, as a guest on the ProSieben show “Expert for Everything”, took on the experiment: She tried living on a train. She cooked lunch on a portable stove in the middle of a large compartment, used the aisle for workouts, and disturbed other passengers in various ways.
The whole thing was, of course, planned in collaboration with the railway. That’s why the staff didn’t intervene forcefully, as they likely would with a real passenger. Nina Chuba fulfilled the task of taking the idea to absurdity–as if it weren’t already absurd enough.
Man Has Lived on a Train for About 4 Years
But you can take it seriously, as the case of Lasse Stolley shows. Since 2022, the now 19-year-old has called Deutsche Bahn trains his home–and now also his workplace. According to BILD information, he started in April 2025 at TRI in passenger service, began his training as a train conductor shortly after, and has been fully trained since this year. He now takes on a role similar to a train manager at Deutsche Bahn.
But back to the main topic, which is honestly more exciting than Stolley’s career development. Instead of a fixed residence, the native of Fockbek owns a BahnCard 100, which allows unlimited travel throughout Germany–holders can board any Deutsche Bahn train. The first-class version for those under 26 costs 5,999 euros per year. Right: Even a relatively cheap monthly rent often exceeds this. As bizarre as it sounds–at least at first glance, there are indeed some arguments for this model.
The Ticket Grants a Residence Permit on the Train
A (permanent) ticket entitles one to transportation with Deutsche Bahn. Those who misuse trains, violate house rules, or disturb other passengers can be excluded from transportation.
Lasse Stolley does not do this. He dines in the designated onboard restaurant and takes care of his hygiene in swimming pools he visits during his stops. More details about his train lifestyle are shared by colleagues at “BILD.” It should be noted that one thing is missing to classify Stolley’s situation as living. Naturally, he is not registered with Deutsche Bahn. He receives mail at a post office box in Berlin.
A clear distinction is necessary here. Lasse Stolley does not live on the train, as living in Germany requires a registered address. “Due to his young age, he might be registered in his parents’ community,” speculates travel law attorney Jan Bartholl. TRAVELBOOK spoke with the legal expert in more detail about whether living on a train is allowed.
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Jan Bartholl acknowledges that purchasing a ticket with Deutsche Bahn establishes a transportation contract–it does not rent an apartment. But there is no explicit legal prohibition preventing someone from continuously traveling on various trains.
If a BahnCard 100 holder stays on trains permanently, one could factually say: They live there in a certain way. If the person has a valid ticket–which is generally affirmed with a BahnCard 100–and adheres to the railway’s transportation conditions, this behavior is indeed legitimate and allowed. “No one is prohibited from sleeping on a train, brushing their teeth, or doing other things typically done in an apartment,” the expert summarizes again–”but all within the framework of transportation conditions.”
What Does the Railway Say About All This?
The mentioned transportation conditions of Deutsche Bahn primarily regulate details about ticket purchase, train binding, passenger rights in case of delays, and luggage and pet transport. However, how long someone with a valid ticket can stay on the train is not explicitly regulated there.
With Lasse Stolley, DB seems to have no direct problem. He is now not only at home in their trains but, after his unusual career path to “self-made train manager,” perhaps already something of an honorary member. TRAVELBOOK asked the company specifically whether it is generally allowed to live on the trains of the transport company. A response is still pending–and one might suspect it will remain that way. After all, encouraging more people to consider Deutsche Bahn trains as a permanent residence is unlikely to be in the company’s interest.