Treinreise in Duitsland - Rail travel in Germany

Skilderagtige spoorwegroete oor die rivier die Mosel tussen wingerde naby Traben-Trarbach.

Duitslandse spoorwegstelsel is vinnig, betroubaar en dek die meeste interessante plekke. Terwyl kaartjies wat 'last minute' gekoop word, duur kan wees, kan dit, met 'n bietjie beplanning, ook verbasend goedkoop wees. Ten spyte van die opkoms van interbussebusse, treine is nog net tweede as motors as dit kom by die motor. N treinreis vanaf Hamburg in die noorde tot München in die suide duur dit gewoonlik minder as ses uur. Dieselfde reis per motor duur ongeveer agt uur, 'n bus neem tien uur of langer en nie een van hierdie syfers is verantwoordelik vir verkeersopeenhopings nie. Verder vertrek die meeste treine elke uur of elke twee uur, terwyl busse 'n baie skraler skedule het.

Volgens Deutsche Bahn is treinreise taamlik omgewingsvriendelik. In 2014 het een passasier-kilometer reis met 'n DB-langafstandstrein byna 13 keer minder CO uitgestraal2 as dieselfde afstand per motor afgelê. Plaaslike en streektreine stoot meer uit omdat dit minder hernubare energie en meer diesel gebruik. DB beoog ook om die aandeel van hernubare energie geleidelik te verhoog in die elektrisiteit wat dit vir sy treine gebruik. Trouens, die groen streep op alle BahnCards dui op 'n belofte dat alle kaartjies wat aan BahnCard-eienaars verkoop word, treine verteenwoordig met 100% hernubare elektrisiteit.

Verstaan

Hauptbahnhof in Bremen.

Langafstand-treinreise word bestuur deur die Deutsche Bahn. Die monopolie is egter uiteindelik verbreek toe Flixtrain (dieselfde maatskappy wat Flixbus bedryf) het die mark betree op sleutelroetes wat van die grootste stede van Duitsland bedien, soos tussen Berlyn en Stuttgart, Berlyn en Aken, en Hamburg en Aken, met goedkoper tariewe, hoewel effens verouderde hutte. Intussen nog 'n private operateur Alex bedryf lyne tussen geselekteerde stede in Beiere en Praag in die Tsjeggiese Republiek.

Operateurs van buurlande bedryf ook lyne vanaf 'n stad of twee in Duitsland na hul onderskeie lande deur gebruik te maak van rollende voorrade van óf Deutsche Bahn óf hul eie. Die meeste van hierdie lyne kan ook vir binnelandse reise gebruik word en kan ook op die Deutsche Bahn-webwerf bespreek word.

Deutsche Bahn

Deutsche Bahn bestuur die oorgrote meerderheid Duitse langafstandtreine en verkoop ook kaartjies vir streeks- en plaaslike treine wat deur ander maatskappye bedryf word. Die DB-webwerf (wat vir baie plekke gelokaliseerde weergawes het en ten minste gedeeltelik beskikbaar is in Engels en 'n halfdosyn ander tale) is 'n uitstekende bron om treinverbindings dwarsdeur Europa te vind, hoewel sommige erfenisspoorweë en geïntegreerde spoorwegdienste nie gelys word nie. Die DB-webwerf verkoop kaartjies vir die meeste reise van oorsprong en / of eindig in Duitsland, maar nie vir 'n reis wat net deur Duitsland gaan (byvoorbeeld vir 'n reis van Parys na Warskou, moet u 'n kaartjie van Parys na Berlyn en een van Berlyn na Warschau koop) en sal nie pryse vertoon of kaartjies verkoop vir sommige internasionale asook 'n paar plaaslike treinverbindings. Die DB-webwerf is besig om die moontlikheid in te sluit om kaartjies vir nie-Duitse spoorweë te koop, maar dit kan nog steeds tref-en-mis wees, en vir suiwer binnelandse kaartjies buite Duitsland is die ooreenstemmende nasionale spoorweg gewoonlik die beste opsie.

Roosters en tariewe

Roosters en standaardtariewe (Flexpreis) is gewoonlik een jaar geldig. Elke Desember tree 'n nuwe rooster in werking, wat gewoonlik middel Oktober gepubliseer word. DB verhoog gewoonlik hul pryse meestal vir langafstandtreine as die skedule verander. Verkehrsverbünde verander gewoonlik hul skedule ongeveer dieselfde tyd, maar nie altyd op dieselfde dag nie. Daar is moontlik oorgangstydperke vir die geldigheid van plaaslike kaartjies.

Op die meeste roetes kan kaartjies tot 180 dae vooruit bespreek word, maar kaartjies na die skeduleverandering word eers verkoop nadat die nuwe skedule gepubliseer is. As u goedkoop kaartjies vir langafstandtreine wil kry, koop die spesiale kaartjies (soos spaargeld) so vroeg as moontlik. Die prys van hierdie beperkte kaartjies vir langafstandtreine styg, hoe nader die vertrekdatum is, en dit is moontlik uitverkoop. Die meeste Duitsers bespreek egter nie meer as een week vooruit nie, met die moontlike uitsondering van internasionale kaartjies.

Pryse vir standaardtariewe vir enige trein en spesiale kaartjies vir streeks- en plaaslike treine bly normaalweg dieselfde gedurende die jaar (en dit is onbeperk), sodat dit net voor u reis gekoop kan word.

Geïntegreerde openbare vervoerstelsels (Verkehrsverbund)

Oorsig oor geïntegreerde openbare vervoerstelsels (Verkehrsverbünde) in Duitsland. Geel gebiede (mit SPNV) die gebruik van streeks- en plaaslike treine, grys gebiede (ohne SPNV) moenie.

In groter stedelike gebiede vorm plaaslike vervoerondernemings dikwels 'n geïntegreerde openbare vervoerstelsel Verkehrsverbund (VB) (of Verkehrsverbünde in sy meervoudsvorm). In elke Verkehrsverbund kan alle openbare vervoer (dit kan metro's, stadsbusse, S-Bahn, spoorweg- en selfs streektreine insluit) met 'n gemeenskaplike kaartjie- en tariefstelsel gebruik word. 'N Verkehrsverbund bied ook 'n gemeenskaplike en gekoördineerde skedule aan. Voorbeelde sluit in VBB rondom Berlyn en Brandenburg (die grootste volgens oppervlakte), RMV rondom Frankfurt, MVV rondom München, of Bodo vir die gebied in Duitsland onmiddellik langs Bodenmeer.

Hierdie stedelike vervoernetwerke is dikwels (maar nie altyd nie) geïntegreer in die DB-netwerk, en Verkehrsverbund-kaartjies is geldig in plaaslike treine. Die neiging is groter Verkehrsverbünde met beter spoorwegintegrasie en plaaslike vervoerskedules word dikwels met die treinskedules in gedagte gemaak. Die S-Bahn is gewoonlik die "hart" van a Verkehrsverbund en S-Bahn-uitbreiding het in die verlede dikwels saamgeval Verkehrsverbund uitbreiding.

Langafstandtreine (wat byvoorbeeld Flixtrain en alle "wit" DB-treine insluit) is nie deel van 'n Verkehrsverbund, wat beteken dat 'n passasier nie sulke dienste mag gebruik om tussen twee punte in 'n metrogebied met slegs 'n Verkehrsverbund-kaartjie te pendel nie.

Met die DB Navigator-app kan u die meeste Verkersverbund-kaartjies koop met behulp van 'n VISA / Mastercard-debiet- of kredietkaart, selfs al het u nie 'n langafstandreis op die dae wat u plaaslike vervoer wil gebruik nie.

Agtergrond inligting

Duitsland het meer as 40 000 km spoorweë (wat dit die sesde langste spoorwegnetwerk en een van die digste wêreldwyd maak) en is dus ongelooflik goed verbind, wat dit moontlik maak om vanaf die meeste landelike gebiede met groot metropole te verbind. Geen Duitse dorp met meer as 100 000 inwoners het spoorwegdiens nie, en die meeste dorpe met meer as 20 000 inwoners het gereelde spoorwegdienste.

Deutsche Bahn - die belangrikste spoorwegoperateur in die land - is in 'n ongewone posisie. Sedert 1994 is dit georganiseer as 'n Aktiengesellschaft (gesamentlike aandelemaatskappy), wat normaalweg na verwagting 'n wins sal oplewer. Die staat besit egter al die aandele. Dit beteken dat DB terselfdertyd in twee rigtings getrek word: dit is veronderstel om soos 'n private winsgewende maatskappy op te tree en ook soos 'n staatsinstelling. Gevolglik is die uitvoerende hoof - en ten minste sommige lede van die direksie - 'n politieke benoeming en gewoonlik 'n huishoudelike naam in Duitsland kort na die aanvaarding van die amp. Daar word dikwels in die media na die uitvoerende hoof verwys en informeel as Bahnchef ('spoorbaas'). Dus word die huidige uitvoerende hoof, Richard Lutz, dikwels net genoem Bahnchef Lutz.

Alhoewel alle operateurs (DB ook ingesluit) vryafstandtreine op enige gegewe roete kan bestuur teen elke prys wat hulle goeddink - mits hulle spoortoetskoste betaal aan DB Netz (self 'n DB-filiaal) - die situasie vir plaaslike treine is ingewikkelder. Die federale regering gee 'n sekere hoeveelheid geld aan die state wat hulle moet bestee aan plaaslike spoorwegdiens. Sommige state gee hierdie geld aan plaaslike Verkehrsverbünde terwyl ander een groot pot op staatsvlak het. Die staat of die Verkehrsverbund wat deur die staat daartoe bevoegd is, stel dan roosters en treinvereistes op (byvoorbeeld een trein elke uur met 'n spesifieke aantal eerste- en tweedeklas sitplekke, Wi-Fi en vlakke instap) en vra vir bod van regoor Europa. Gewoonlik is DB onder diegene wat bied, maar dikwels sal ander ondernemers 'n laer subsidie ​​vra en sodoende die kontrak kry. Bie vir 'n nuwe kontrak begin gewoonlik voordat die ou kontrak uitgeloop het. Kontrakvoorwaardes is meestal redelik lank: op sommige roetes werk DB steeds onder kontrakte wat nie onderhewig was aan openbare insette nie of waar DB die enigste bieder was. Dit is een van die hoofredes waarom WiFi baie skaars in plaaslike treine voorkom: operateurs is nie verplig om iets te verskaf wat nie in die oorspronklike kontrak uiteengesit is nie. Die kontrakte is dikwels taamlik spesifiek, en sommige waarnemers grap dat die enigste ding wat 'n spoorwegoperateur is eintlik kies om die kleurskema en die lone van werknemers te kies, wat natuurlik lei tot eise van DB se private mededinging wat die vakbondslone van DB steeds beïnvloed deur voormalige amptenare.

Treintipes

Langafstandtreine

'N InterCity Express (ICE, 2de generasie) by Berlyn Hauptbahnhof.
ICE-lyne: frekwensie en spoedbeperkings vanaf 2018

Byna alle langafstandtreine word deur Deutsche Bahn bestuur. Al die groot stede word met DB se ICE (InterCity Express) en gewone IC (InterCity) treine verbind.

  • InterCity Express (ICE) treine. Hoë spoed treine in staat tot snelhede tot 320 km / h (200 mph). Die toestand van spore en seine laat egter 'n topsnelheid van slegs 160 km / h (99 mph) toe op onveranderde legendariese spore, 200 km / h (120 mph) op roetes met spesiale elektroniese toerusting genaamd "Ausbaustrecke" (die spoorlyn van Berlyn in Hamburg Ausbaustrecke gebou vir 230 km / h (140 mph)), of 250 km / h (160 mph) tot 300 km / h (190 mph) op aangewese hoëspoedpaaie genaamd "Neubaustrecke". Die topsnelheid van 320 km / h (200 mph) word bereik tydens die reis van Frankfurt na Parys, Frankryk. Alhoewel dit aansienlik vinniger is as per pad, kan dit ook duur wees met 'n reis van 1 uur (Frankfurt aan Keulen, ongeveer 180 km) tot € 67 eenrigting ("Flexpreis", d.w.z. opstap tarief sonder enige afslag). As u egter die kaartjie vooraf bespreek en 'n bietjie buigsaam is met die uur en reisdatum, kan u aansienlike afslag kry. Alle huishoudelike ys's is elektries. Daar is verskillende soorte ys, maar hulle is almal baie soortgelyk aan mekaar en word slegs onderskei vir nie-entoesiaste deur hul topspoed en ouderdom. 'N Opvallende verskil is die ICE 4 wat in Desember 2017 in gewone diens ingestel is en die enigste ICE wat fiets vervoer. Die bestelling vir die ICE 4 was een van die grootste in die DB-geskiedenis en dit sal in die middel 2020's duur voordat alle bestelde treine in gebruik is.
  • ICE Sprinter. Dieselfde treine as gewone ICE's, maar hulle ry ononderbroke tussen groot stede of het net een tussenstop. Hul reistye is almal minder as vier uur om die reistye van deur tot deur van die lugdienste te ewenaar. Daar is geen toeslag meer vir die gebruik van ICE Sprinter-dienste nie, maar goedkoop kaartjies vir vroeë voëls is miskien skaarser daarvoor. 'N ICE Sprinter-reis tussen Berlyn en München duur byvoorbeeld net ongeveer 4 uur.
  • InterCity (IC) treine. Redelik gemaklik, selfs al het hulle nie die hoëtegnologiese gevoel van die ICE nie. ICE-treine is slegs vinniger as IC-treine op spesiaal geboude spore of bestaande spore wat opgegradeer is. Ouer IK's is 'n enkelvlak-voorraad wat tot in die 1970's getrek word, maar die meeste is in die negentigerjare of later gebou of opgeknap. Ou IC's het topsnelhede tot 200 km / h. In 2016 het DB 'n reeks nuwe tweevlak-intercity-aandele bekendgestel "Intercity 2". Hulle het 'n topsnelheid van 160 km / h (99 km / h) en is redelik modern en gemaklik met elektriese afsetpunte, sitplekke wat sit en 'n snack- en drankdiens op u sitplek, maar die bagasieruimte is taamlik beperk, dus vermy dit jy het baie goed om mee te dra - maar daar is gewoonlik plek onder die sitplekke as alles anders misluk. Op sommige roetes word IC-treine deur diesellokomotiewe vervoer, maar dit word skaarser omdat meer roetes geëlektrifiseer word en meer roetes word bestuur deur verskeie eenhede wat die skakel van die dryfkrag bemoeilik.
  • EuroCity (EC) treine. Verbind groter Europese stede en is feitlik identies aan IC-treine. Baie EC-treine word deur naburige spoorwegoperateurs voorsien (byvoorbeeld die Praag-Hamburg-roete wat deur Tsjeggiese spoorweë bestuur word). Alhoewel dit geen invloed op die bespreking en pryse het nie, kan die binnekant van die treine veral verskil van vergelykbare Duitse treine. Ook EC-treine, veral die wat baie lang afstande ry, is meer geneig tot vertragings as suiwer binnelandse dienste.
  • EuroCity Express treine. In Desember 2017 bekendgestel, het hulle enigste bedien die Frankfurt-Milaan-gang en die München-Zürich-gang met tussenstop in Switserland. Anders as alle ander treinkategorieë, is daar 'n verpligte (maar gratis) bespreking, en kaartjies word aan 'n spesifieke trein gebind, selfs vir 'Flexpreis'-kaartjies (maar Flexpreis-kaartjies kan gratis na 'n ander trein bespreek word, onderhewig aan beskikbaarheid). Die treine is Switserse kanteltreine van die ETR 610-familie met 'n topsnelheid van 250 km / h (160 mph). In teenstelling met EC, IC en ICE, word die kategorie "EuroCity Express" nog nie deur ander spoorweë gebruik nie - nie eers die Switserse en Italiaanse nie, dus hierdie treine sal op die Switserse en Italiaanse skedules as gewone EG verskyn.
Ja jy is lees die skerm korrek: dit toon 299 km / h.

Op hooflyne ry ICE- of IC-treine gedurende die dag so gereeld as uurliks, en selfs sommige kleiner stede is baie gewild onder toeriste Tübingen of Heringsdorf het daaglikse of weeklikse dienste.

Gegewe die voorbeelde hierbo oor die topsnelheid van sekere lyne, wil u dalk kyk of die ICE aansienlik vinniger is as streeks- en plaaslike treine voordat u 'n ICE-kaartjie aanvul. Tog word kaartjies vir vroeë voëls dikwels baie geprys in ooreenstemming met die verwagte vraag, en vinniger reise is gewoonlik duurder as 'n reis met baie veranderings of langs stadiger lyne tussen dieselfde eindpunte.

Daar is ook langafstandtreine wat deur ander maatskappye as Deutsche Bahn bestuur word (sien hieronder), wat gewoonlik oor sekondêre roetes loop met goedkoper toegangspunte vir spore. Dit is gewoonlik gemaklik genoeg (hoewel nie so gemaklik soos ICE nie) en soms aansienlik goedkoper, maar hul stoppatroon kan baie meer gereeld of baie minder voorkom as vergelykbare DB-treine. Voor die liberalisering van die interstads-busmark mededinging op langafstandroetes het toegeneem. Aangesien die busse oor die algemeen selfs goedkoper was as die treindienste wat met DB meeding, het verskeie maatskappye die mark verlaat, planne gesluit om dit te betree of hul dienste aansienlik verminder. Met Flixbus wat nou noord van negentig persent van die interbussemark beheer, is hulle ook DB se belangrikste kompetisie op die gebied van langafstandtreine.

Sitplek besprekings

Sitplek besprekings is nie verpligtend nie, maar dit word aanbeveel, veral as u op Vrydae, Sondae of vakansiedae reis, wanneer dit waarskynlik is dat treine vol is. Dit beteken met 'n Interrail of Eurail kan u binnelandse ICE-treine gebruik (insluitend Sprinter ICE-treine, maar nie internasionale ICE-treine nie) sonder om 'n aanvulling te betaal.

'N Sitplekbespreking kos € 4 in die 2de klas en is ingesluit by die prys van die 1ste klas kaartjies. Sitplekbesprekings is 15 minute geldig vanaf die vertrek van die trein. Na daardie tyd kan ander passasiers wettiglik sit as u dit nie bewoon het nie.

As u geen sitplekbespreking het of wil koop nie, moet u na 'n sitplek soek wat glad nie gereserveer is nie, of wat slegs vir 'n gedeelte van die reis gereserveer is nadat u uit die trein klim. Sitplekbesprekings word gemerk met 'n elektroniese vertoning bo of in die sitplek of op 'n klein papierbordjie by die venster.

As u gereserveerde trein gekanselleer of vertraag word, kan u u sitplekbespreking verander na 'n ander trein by 'n DB-diensbank of dit terugbetaal via Passasierregte eis.

Geriewe

Daar is gratis WiFi op feitlik alle ICE's, maar nie op IC's nie. Aangesien dit via 'n mobiele sein verskaf word, kan bandwydte soms ontbreek. Om toegang tot die Wi-Fi te verkry, kies net 'Wi-Fi op ICE' en die program sal u deur die volgende stappe lei. In die tweede klas kan die spoed verminder word na 200 MB gebruik per toestel. In sommige internasionale treine kan die Wi-Fi-netwerk ophou werk as die trein Duitsland verlaat.

Daar is ook 'n vermaakportaal met ongeveer 50 reekse en films gratis. Die volledige spektrum van ongeveer 1000 vertonings en films is slegs beskikbaar vir maxdome kliënte. Aangesien toegang tot die vermaakportaal via bedieners aan boord verkry word, word dit nie beïnvloed deur gebrek aan bandwydte of ander moontlike probleme met Wi-Fi nie. Net so bied die ICE Portal ook gratis klankboeke en nuus (meestal in Duits), asook inligting oor die reis en die volgende bestemming; U kan ook sien waar die trein op 'n kaart is en hoe vinnig dit gaan.

In elke trein is daar 'n bistro of 'n restaurant, waar passasiers drankies of versnaperings kan bestel en aan 'n staande tafel of sit. Hulle bring hierdie drankies soms ook in karre as u op u sitplek wil bly. Betaling kan in kontant of kredietkaart geskied, alhoewel laasgenoemde soms traag of selfs nie in werking kan wees nie, aangesien die terminale geheel en al afhanklik is van selfoonontvangs. Pryse is gelyk aan iets duurder as by die treinstasie.

Alle aankondigings en tekens op treine, insluitend die naderende stasie en verbindings daarvandaan, word in Duits en Engels gedoen. Die dirigent kan ten minste 'n bietjie Engels praat, wat u kan vra as u 'n verbinding mis of hulp nodig het.

Geselekteerde motors by elke trein is stil hutte, wat geen geraas of selfs lui van die telefoon toelaat nie; bespreking kos dieselfde as vir sitplekke in 'n gewone motor. Hutte vir 6 mense is ook beskikbaar, maar mag nie privaat bespreek word nie, dit wil sê 2 mense in 'n 6-persone-kajuit.

Eersteklas

Die meeste treine in Duitsland, behalwe sommige plaaslike treine, het eerste- en tweedeklas-afdelings. Eersteklaspassasiers op langafstandtreine kry meer ruimte (drie eerder as vier sitplekke, meer beenruimte, sitplekke wat meer skuins lê) en - in ICE-treine - kan u die kondukteur vra om drankies en kos uit die restaurantmotor te bring. Drankies of kos is nie ingesluit by die tarief, maar die sitplek is bespreek. Tweede klas passasiers mag normaalweg nie in eersteklas afdelings sit nie. Die prysverskil tussen eerste en tweede klas wissel baie en daar is afsonderlike BahnCards vir eerste en tweede klas, maar soms kan u 'n eersteklaskaartjie vir 'n paar euro meer as 'n tweedeklaskaartjie kry. Eerste klas is gemerk met die nommer 1 en (volgens die Europese standaard) 'n geel verfstreep aan die buitekant van die eerste klas. Eersteklas-passasiers kan ook sitkamerdienste geniet in uitgesoekte sitkamers in Duitse treinstasies en sitkamers van vennootspoorwegondernemings buite Duitsland vir internasionale roetes.

Slaper treine

DB beëindig sy slaaptrein dienste in 2016 vervang deur 'n beperkte hoeveelheid gereelde ICE's wat snags ry, asook sommige busse.

Die belangrikste operateur van slaaptreine in Duitsland is ÖBB, die Oostenrykse staatspoorweg. Kaartjies vir wat hulle noem Nightjet treine begin vanaf € 29 vir die goedkoopste sitplekke en vroeë bespreking. Slapers of last minute besprekings is van nature duurder. Elke slaapplek bevat ontbyt en kan via die DB-webwerf bespreek word. U kan enigiets van u eie kompartement met bed en stort tot 'n enkelsitplek in 'n ses-sitplek-kamer bespreek. ÖBB is besig om hul vloot te moderniseer (waarvan sommige by DB gekoop het toe DB van die nagtreinbedryf uitgegaan het) en het voornemens aangekondig om addisionele roetes te bestuur, maar probleme met die goedkeuring van regulasies en die feit dat ÖBB van plan is om alle treine te herstel en te onderhou in Oostenryk beperk die omvang van moontlike uitbreiding.

Bestuur deur ÖBB

Samewerking met ÖBB en ander nasionale spoorweë[voorheen dooie skakel]

Ander nagtreine

Motortreine

BahnTouristikExpress - 'n maatskappy wat spesialiseer in die verhuring van treine aan toeroperateurs en privaat groepe 'n treindiens (BTE AutoReiseZug) van Lörrach in die Suidweste van Duitsland, naby Basel, Switserland, en die Franse Elsas aan Hamburg-Altona hele jaar. ÖBB Nightjet hardloop ook motortreine (Outoreisezug) van Wene en Innsbruck aan Hamburg Altona en Düsseldorf. DB het in 2016 opgehou om sy eie motortreine te ry (behalwe vir die Sylt-trein, wat net 50 minute ry).

Van en na Sylt

Sylt Shuttle

Gewone motortreine verbind die eiland Sylt met die vasteland, wat deur DB bestuur word (onder die handelsnaam Sylt Shuttle) en die private maatskappy Autozug Sylt, 'n filiaal van die Amerikaner Spoorwegontwikkelingsmaatskappy (RDC) (die enigste ander skakel na die vasteland is 'n veerboot vanaf Denemarke.) Die pryse is in die algemeen soortgelyk, hoewel - soos die nuwer toetreder tot die mark - Autozug Sylt DB probeer onderkry. Anders as die meeste nie-streektreine in Duitsland, is daar geen afslag vir die aankoop van kaartjies nie, maar daar is wel afslag as u tien of twaalf kaartjies gelyktydig koop, en daar is nog 'n afslag vir inwoners van Sylt. Die twee maatskappye gebruik dieselfde terminale in Sylt en 1 Niebüll.

Streeks- en plaaslike treine

S-Bahn-Logo.svg S-Bahn-stasie Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof-tief

Met die Duitse woord word gemaklik na streeks- en plaaslike treine in Duitsland verwys Nahverkehr. Hierdie treine het verskillende soorte:

  • InterRegio-Express (IRE). Die vinnigste tipe streektrein wat slegs enkele stasies bel. Hulle lê gewoonlik langer afstande af as 'normale' RE's.
  • Regional-Express (RE). Semi-sneltreine wat sommige stasies oorslaan. Op baie roetes is dit die hoogste beskikbare treinkategorie.
  • Regional-Bahn (RB). Stop oral, behalwe dat dit S-Bahn-stop kan oorslaan.
  • S-Bahn. Pendelaarnetwerk vir 'n stad of metropolitaanse gebied, wat tog redelike lang afstande kan aflê. Sommige S-Bahn-treine is gewoonlik die enigste treine in Duitsland wat nie 'n toilet aanbied nie, maar dit hang gedeeltelik af van die presiese streek en lyn en word skaarser.

Die meeste streeks- en plaaslike treine ry een keer per uur of een keer elke twee uur vanaf 05:00 of 06:00 tot ongeveer 23:00 of selfs later. S-Bahn-lyne het dikwels 30 minute of minder opgang wat op 15 minute of selfs sewe en 'n half minute kan neerkom op stamroetes waar verskeie lyne oorvleuel. Tussen groot stede in 'n groot metropolitaanse gebied kan S-Bahn en streektreine op hul roete oorvleuel, wat meer vervoeropsies bied as u van die middestad na die middestad wil ry.

Op streektreine WiFi is steeds die uitsondering eerder as die reël. Daar word beraam dat slegs ongeveer 10% van die treine teen 2020 WiFi sal hê. WiFi was nie 'n vereiste in die meeste huidige kontrakte vir streektreine nie, en daar is nie genoeg selfoonmaste in die lyn nie.

Op streektreine eersteklas - as dit enigsins beskikbaar is - is gewoonlik baie soortgelyk aan tweede klas, maar soos dit is gewoonlik geen voorbehou sitplekke nie in albei klasse sal u meer geneig wees om in die eerste klas op besige roetes te sit. Sommige operateurs probeer egter die opmaak vir eersteklas regverdig deur byvoorbeeld beter sitplekke of sitplek te bied of om die boonste dek op tweevlakvoorraad vir eerste klas te bespreek.

Baie maatskappye behalwe Deutsche Bahn bestuur streektreine. Dit word gewoonlik gedoen deur middel van 'n kontrak met die Bundesland Dit betaal hulle om 'n sekere aantal treine op gespesifiseerde ure te bestuur, en in daardie kontrakte word ook bepaal dat DB-kaartjies (soos Landkaartjies en die Vraag durchs Land kaartjie) aanvaar word. In sommige streke soos Sleeswyk-Holstein daar is miskien twee, drie of meer verskillende kaartjieverkoopmasjiene in die stasie, een vir elke maatskappy. In geval van twyfel, vra mense op die platform, of beter nog DB-personeel. Op baie uitsonderlike uitsonderings na, kan u kaartjies koop wat geldig is met nie-DB-treine met standaard DB-verkoopmasjiene, maar nie andersom nie.

'N Kaart van spoorlyne in Duitsland - vetdruk beteken' hooflyn ', skraal beteken' taklyn '

Bespreekte sitplek op plaaslike treine

Grootliks jy kan nie bespreek plek in plaaslike treine. Die eersteklas-toeslag werk egter op baie maniere as 'n feitlike 'sitplekbespreking', omdat die eerste klas byna nooit so vol word nie, daar is geen sitplekke beskikbaar nie (en 'n eersteklaskaartjie gee u uiteraard ook die reg om in die tweede klas te ry). Sommige pendelaars het egter met gereserveerde sitplekke geëksperimenteer as 'n verdere verleiding vir mense om maandelikse of jaarlikse kaartjies te koop. Daar kan dan sitplekke wees wat met nommers gemerk is en 'n verduideliking in Duits (en soms ook in Engels) dat die sitplek aan iemand met 'n bespreking gegee moet word. In die praktyk is dit gewoonlik slegs 'n probleem gedurende die oggend- en aandspits. In 'n handvol streektreine kan u ook 'n sitplekbespreking koop (enigste by die kaartjie-masjien - nie aanlyn of by die toonbank nie) vir € 1, maar aangesien dit beperk is, kan dit verkoop word selfs vir treine waar dit andersins beskikbaar is.

Ander treinoperateurs

Alhoewel die Duitse spoorwegmark al jare lank geliberaliseer is, is daar relatief min treinoperateurs behalwe DB, en hulle is almal klein. Dit kan ook moeilik wees om te gebruik - hulle verskyn nie in die sentrale treinbeplanner nie, en Eurail-passe is nie geldig nie. Dit kan wel baie goedkoper wees as DB, veral op kort kennisgewing. Dit lyk asof DB doelbewus sy eie IC / ICE-treine rondom die vertrektye van mededingende dienste op sommige roetes saamvat, dus as die vertrektyd van die kompetisie met u ooreenstem, het u meer keuse as gewoonlik.

Hier is 'n paar voorbeelde:

  • Alex. Alex treine bied (onder andere verbindings) 'n verbinding vanaf München, Neurenberg of Regensburg aan Praag vanaf 23 € enkele reis of 43 € terugreiskaartjie (Prag Spezial). Kaartjies kan in die trein gekoop word. Op byna al hul treine kan u snacks en drankies teen baie billike pryse koop. Uiteindelik deel van die Italiaanse nasionale spoorweg (Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane) deur 'n reeks Duitse filiale.
  • Flixbus / Flixtrain, die byna monopolist in Interbussebusse in Duitsland het twee onafhanklike operateurs op die roetes Hamburg-Keulen en Berlyn-Stuttgart oorgeneem. Daarna het hulle Berlyn-Keulen-diens bygevoeg. Maak seker dat u 'n trein bespreek as u bespreek, want Flixbus verkoop ook buskaartjies op dieselfde roetes. Hulle beplan om hul netwerk uit te brei, insluitend 'n uitbreiding van die Berlyn-Keulen-diens na Aken en Leipzig teen Desember 2019.
    FlixTrain vervoer

Afgesien daarvan is daar verskeie stoom- of dieselbronne erfenisspoorweë, gebruik dikwels smalspoorbane. Hulle is gewoonlik nie in DB-kaartjies of Verkehrsverbund-kaartjies geïntegreer nie en kan aansienlik duurder wees per km as hooflynoperateurs. Hulle voer die spektrum vanaf die somer en naweke, net tot daaglikse bedrywighede met 'n beduidende vervoerwaarde.

Busse

DB bedryf ook 'n handjievol IC-bus roetes. Hulle is volledig geïntegreer in DB se kaartjie- en tariefstelsel en word deur die besprekingstelsel behandel soos 'n InterCity-trein met verpligte gratis sitplekbesprekings. IC-busse bedien meestal roetes waar die spoorweginfrastruktuur nie genoeg snelhede vir vinnige diens toelaat nie en gewoonlik minder stop as parallelle treindienste het.

Plaaslike busse is gewoonlik geïntegreer in die kaartjiestelsel van enige gegewe Verkehrsverbund en die DB City-kaartjie, wat sonder ekstra koste beskikbaar is vir baie langafstandkaartjies met 'n BahnCard-afslag, sluit 'n rit in busse, trems, spoorweg- en moltreine in soos van toepassing op / vanaf u eindbestemming binne die oorsprong / vertrekstad.

Flixbus, aangesien dit hoofsaaklik 'n busonderneming is, verkoop kaartjies vir sy twee spoorroetes, sowel as deurkaartjies wat busse met treine kombineer. Hulle verkoop egter nie gesamentlike kaartjies met plaaslike treine nie.

Samewerking met lugdienste

Sien ook: Spoorwegalliansies

Lufthansa werk sedert die 1980's in een of ander vorm met DB saam. Vir 'n tyd lank het hulle selfs hul eie treine bestuur, kompleet met Lufthansa-aflewering. Vandag, AIRail maak dit moontlik om sekere ICE's soos 'n vlugsektor te bespreek (jy kan selfs myl verdien), met inklok by die treinstasie. (U moet egter steeds u bagasie op die lughawe afgee.) Feitlik alle Duitse lughawens is met mekaar verbind[dooie skakel] na die hoofspoornetwerk, die plaaslike trem of die metro-netwerk. 'N Handjievol lughawens het selfs treine wat daar stop, maar daar is geen vlug nie. U kan gewoonlik via DB 'n deurgangskaartjie tot by die lughawe koop. Baie aanbieders wat na / van Duitse lughawens vlieg, bied dit aan spoor- en vliegkaartjies[dooie skakel]. Hulle moet gewoonlik saam met die vlug bespreek word. Sulke kaartjies is gewoonlik goedkoper as 'n vergelykbare binnelandse vlug, of selfs heeltemal gratis, afhangende van die lugdiens en tipe kaartjie. Met Rail & Fly kan u enige trein vanaf enige stasie in Duitsland (en selfs sommige in aangrensende lande) na die lughawe neem (weer, selfs sommige nie-Duitse lughawens is deel van die program) met enige aantal veranderinge tot een dag voor vertrek en om enige trein vanaf die lughawe na enige stasie op die terugreis te neem. Rail & Fly is 'n standaardfunksie vir pakketvakansies wat Duitsland vertrek, maar as u slegs 'n vlug bespreek, kan enkele lugrederye wat die trein per vliegtuig aanbied, dit moeilik maak om te bespreek.

Kaartjies

Hoe om kaartjies te koop

Daar is verskillende maniere om kaartjies te koop. As u betrap word sonder 'n geldige kaartjie, moet u ten minste a betaal € 60 boetegeld.

Op die internet / mobiele app

Druk aanlynkaartjies uit

Vir 'n lang tyd moes u u aanlynkaartjie druk, of dit via die DB Navigator-app wys. Die DB-bepalings (6.3.2 en 6.3.3) laat u egter toe om die PDF-dokument (met die strepieskode) eenvoudig op 'n mobiele toestel te wys. Daar is dalk nog kaartjies wat u moet afdruk (soos fietsbesprekings), of 'n oningeligte kaartjieinspekteur of busbestuurder kan weier om die PDF-dokument te aanvaar. As u aan die veilige kant wil wees, moet u die kaartjie druk of dit via die app wys.

U kan kaartjies op die DB webwerf of via die DB Navigator-program. Die reisbeplanner wys outomaties die goedkoopste tariewe, insluitend kortings vir vroeë besprekings. Sommige aanbiedings vir streektreine kan egter nie verskyn nie, tensy u die vinkje vir "vinnige verbindings verkies" verwyder en / of die vinkje vir "slegs streektreine" byvoeg.

U moet die kaartjie druk of dit via die app aanbied. Die kaartjie as PDF-dokument op 'n mobiele toestel kan aanvaar word (sien inligtingkassie).

Wanneer u 'n bespreking maak, moet u u naam (sowel as diegene in u reisgeselskap) spesifiseer. Die kaartjie is slegs geldig vir u en diegene wat u reisgeselskap het. By die inspeksie van die kaartjie moet u dalk een of ander vorm van identifikasie (paspoort of EU-ID-kaart, maar bestuurderslisensies word nie aanvaar nie) vir beide soorte kaartjies toon.

Op die DB-webwerf kan u kaartjies sonder 'n rekening bespreek, maar vir die app moet u een skep. As u 'n rekening op die DB-webwerf gebruik, sal u kaartjies outomaties in die app beskikbaar wees. Andersins, kan u altyd die kaartjie se bevestigingsnommer en u van invoer om u bespreking in die app op te spoor.

U kan ook kaartjies aanlyn koop en dit oral vir € 3,90 per e-pos ter wêreld laat pos. U hoef nie 'n ID te vertoon as u met sulke kaartjies reis nie, maar as dit per e-pos verlore gaan, sal DB dit nie vervang nie.

Pasop vir reisagentwebwerwe wat verskyn as u na die DB-webwerf soek. Hulle betaal baie om boaan die soekresultate te verskyn en kan aansienlik te veel belas. Be sure to use the official site linked above.

In addition to long distance tickets, you may also use the DB Navigator app to purchase most kinds of tickets for most local transport associations even if you do not have a long distance train journey. This is handy if you do not prefer to use cash (which may be the only way to pay for some tickets) or do not have a German address (which may be required if you want to use the apps specific to each transport associations).

At a vending machine

New DB touchscreen ticket machine
Very old ticket machine with keypad (on the left) and older touchscreen DB ticket machines (on the right)

At a station, find a ticket machine with a touchscreen, choose your language, and then navigate through the menus. Like the online journey planner, it will automatically suggest the fastest routes. The machines sell all DB train tickets including some international tickets, special tickets (both for long-distance and regional and local trains) and tickets for local transport. Touchscreen machines accept credit cards, older ones do not.

Ticket machines for local Verkehrsverbund are yellow, white or grey. They can be used to buy tickets for local transport, including DB trains. On secondary routes, vending machines inside trains are becoming more common, usually leaving smaller stations without vending machines.

Many local machines and old DB machines require you to enter a four-digit code for your destination, found on a panel of densely packed print nearby. Press the flag button to switch to English, punch in the code for your destination station on the keypad, then hit the appropriate button in the left ("adult") row below to pick your ticket. The first button is always one-way single (Einzelfahrausweis). A price will be displayed: insert your money (quickly, since the timeout is quite fast), and the machine will spit out your tickets and change. Vending machines give max. €9.90 change in coins and will not accept larger notes. For new blue DB machines, select the local tariff union in the top menu, and the rest is easy.

If a station is not equipped with a vending machine or if all the machines are out of order, you have to buy your ticket from a manned ticket counter. If this isn't available either or it is closed, you are allowed to buy your ticket on the train. If there is no vending machine on the train, you have to approach the staff right away and ask them what to do. You should then be able to buy a ticket without paying a surcharge. However, it is usually much less hassle to just buy a ticket via the app.

At a manned ticket counter

Go to the Reisezentrum at any major train station. You might have to take a number and wait until it is called. It is becoming less common to buy tickets at the counter, but if your itinerary is unusual or you can't make heads or tails of the machines, talking to an actual human being can be a godsend. DB charges €2 extra for some special tickets (for regional and local trains) if bought at the ticket counter.

On the train

On long-distance trains, you can buy a ticket from the conductor, but it costs €19 extra. All "main conductors" (the Zugchef in German) speak English, as do most other conductors (though the quality of the English they speak is debatable).

On regional and local trains, tickets are usually nie sold so you need to buy them at the station. Signs on platforms or on trains saying Einstieg nur mit gültigem Fahrausweis mean that you have to have a ticket before you board. Drivers on buses and trams usually do sell tickets, though they might not have (or know about) all ticket types. Some regional trains doen sell tickets on board either through machines or via conductors. This is usually also shown on the door upon entry. Of course you should buy a ticket as soon as you board in those cases.

Standard tickets

Standard tickets (Flexpreis; flexible fare) have the fewest restrictions, but can be quite expensive. The maximum price for a standard ticket (single rail journey within Germany) is €142 in 2nd class and €237 in first class. They are valid for 1 day (trips of up to 100 km) and for 2 days (trips more than 200 km) to travel between a specified departure and destination train station and are nie tied to a specific train. Sometimes the word "via" followed by either some cryptic code or a city name will appear on your ticket. That means the ticket is only valid for the specific route booked and not for a different route to the same destination.

Unlike in other countries, standard tickets do not get sold out for a specific train. If you don't have a seat reservation (which costs extra for 2nd class), then you might have to stand or sit on the floor if the train is very busy. When booking long-distance tickets on the DB website, the search results for a train journey will indicate how full/busy the train is likely going to be.

BahnCard discounts

BahnCard 25, entitling the holder to a 25% discount

BahnCard holders get discounts on all standard DB tickets. A BahnCard can be of great use if you plan to travel by train a lot or a long-term stay in Germany. BahnCards are typically valid for one year from the date of purchase and is renewed automatically unless cancelled in writing at least six weeks before the end of validity. They can be bought at train stations for immediate discounts. If you do that you'll get a temporary (paper) card and you will need to supply a European postal address to get the proper plastic card. Alternatively, one can purchase a 'digital' BahnCard on the DB Navigator app; upon completion, a barcode which contains important information about your subscription will be generated and you can retrieve it whenever you open the app. Ticket inspectors on trains will normally insist that you present not only your ticket, but also the BahnCard used to claim any discount and some form of official ID with a photo. You may present your 'digital' BahnCard in lieu of the physical one during inspection.

The BahnCard discount doesn't necessarily apply to all regional transport day tickets, but some do offer their own discounts for BahnCard holders. BahnCard holders can also get discounts on international trains, as long as the journey originates or terminates somewhere in Germany.

There are three variations of BahnCard. The normal BahnCards are offered for passengers ages 27 and above:

  • BahnCard 25. Costs €55,70 (concessions €36,90) for 2nd class (€112/€72,90 for 1st class) and grants you a 25% discount on all standard tickets for a year. Spouses/partners and kids of BahnCard 25 holders can get additional cards for €5 each. The BahnCard 25 discount can be combined with any Sparpreis discounts. (In effect granting you a further 25% discount on an already discounted fare.)
  • BahnCard 50. Costs €229 (concessions €114) for 2nd class (€463/€226 for 1st class) and grants you a 50% discount on all standard tickets as well as a 25% discount on Sparpreis tickets for a year.
  • BahnCard 100. Costs €3952 for 2nd class (€6685 for 1st class). Unlimited travel for a year on all trains and in many cities even all public transportation. Night trains cost extra. You'll need to bring a photo to buy a BahnCard 100. Holders of 2nd class BahnCard 100 still have to pay for seat reservations; holders of first class ones do not, just like with normal tickets.

There are also variations of the BahnCard 25 and BahnCard 50:

  • Probe BahnCard 25 / Probe BahnCard 50. ("Probe" is the German word for test/trial/sample.) More suitable if you're not ready to commit, don't need a card for a whole year, or will be in Germany only for a short time (but will spend a lot of time commuting by train), these cards are valid for three months and entitle holders to the same discounts as the regular BahnCards listed above. A Probe BahnCard 25 costs €17,90 (2nd class) or €35,90 (1st class), and a Probe BahnCard 50 costs €71,90 (2nd class) or €143 (1st class). Probe BahnCards become regular ones unless cancelled at least six weeks before the end of their validity.
  • My BahnCard 25 / My BahnCard 50. These cards can be bought by anyone under the age of 27 and entitle the holder to the same discounts listed above. My BahnCard 25 costs €34,90 (2nd class) or €72,90 (1st class), and My BahnCard 50 costs €61,90 (2nd class) or €226 (1st class). As with other cards these get renewed automatically unless cancelled at least six weeks before the end of their validity.
  • Jugend BahnCard 25. Open to anyone aged 6 to 18, costs €9 and entitles the holder to a 25% discount, so it often pays off on the first trip. It's valid in 1st and 2nd class. Remember that under 14s travel for free with their parents or grandparents. Unlike other BahnCards, they are valid for up to five years, or until their 19th birthday, whichever comes first.

Special tickets (long-distance trains)

Standard fares are relatively expensive, but special promotions and prices exist. Your best course of action is to check the DB offers page, to ask at a train station, or call them for current details. If you search for a connection with the reisbeplanner, it automatically offers you the most favourable discount for the journey in addition to the standard fare.

Saver fares

Saver fares (Sparpreis) are low-cost one-way tickets for journeys that include long-distance trains (ICE or IC/EC). Regional trains can be added to complete the journey. These tickets are limited, and the actual price varies according to demand. You should purchase them as far in advance as possible (up to 180 days before the departure date), though they can be available minutes before departure for some routes and times. U kan die saver fare finder to find the cheapest saver fare variant.

The following saver fares are offered:

  • Sparpreis (Saver fare). Prices start at €21.50 (second class) and €32.30 (first class). BahnCard customers get a 25% discount on top of those prices. The ticket includes a City-Ticket for trips longer than 100km. The ticket can be refunded up to one day before its validity at a cost of €10. The refund is given as a DB voucher. DB offers "insurance" on Sparpreis offers that covers cancellation and rebooking in case of major injury or illness, but it is not really worth it compared to other travel insurance. First class customers are entitled to use the DB Lounge.
  • Super Sparpreis (Super saver fare). Prices start at €17.90 (second class) or €26.90 (first class). BahnCard customers get a 25% discount on top of those prices. The ticket cannot be refunded (unlike "normal" Sparpreis tickets) and they do not include a City-Ticket. First class customers are nie entitled to use the DB Lounge in the stations.
  • Sparpreis Europa en Super Sparpreis Europa (Saver fare Europe en Super saver fare Europe). A Sparpreis variant for international connections. In Germany this is available for all trains, but abroad there may be restrictions on which trains can be used – if you cannot get a quote for a certain connection online, this may be the case. There are often some specific routes or start points near the border which can net you even cheaper fares.
  • Sparpreis Gruppe (Group saver fare). For groups of six or more people. Prices start at €9.90 (second class) or €27.90 (first class) per person, and include seat reservations. These tickets can be booked up to 12 months in advance at the ticket counter, or up to 6 months in advance online. For short journeys, the regional train day tickets can be cheaper.

Unlike standard tickets, any Sparpreis ticket is valid only on the train booked so you cannot use them on an earlier or later train. That restriction only applies to the long-distance trains of your journey. You can use different regional trains if your ticket includes both regional and long distance trains. If your train is delayed and you miss the follow-up train connection that restriction is lifted, however it is advisable to get a train conductor or some staff at the train station to confirm this on your ticket. If your expected arrival at the final destination is longer than 20 min, you are no longer bound by the restriction.

Ander opsies

Deutsche Bahn also offers — usually without too much advance notice — some special offers on a semi-regular basis. Usually they are fixed-price tickets that can be used for pretty much any train (sometimes certain days of the week or hours of departure, e.g. Friday evening are excluded). Those tickets are often sold at supermarkets, other types of store or online. While they may be more expensive than the cheapest early bird tickets in some cases, they usually offer the benefit of being flexible until you board the train and fill them out.

L’TUR offers last-minute tickets for €25 (or €35 for an international trip) 1–7 days before departure.

As u 'n network ticket for long-distance trains, get a European rail pass of a German Rail Pass.

Special tickets (regional and local trains)

On many shorter connections, local trains are not much slower than long-distance trains (IC, EC, ICE). Most of the special tickets for regional and local trains are automatically offered in addition to the standard fare if you use the DB journey planner and select the Only local transport opsie.

Almost all special offers for regional travel are available at all times and can be bought in advance or minutes before departure.

There are discounted tickets for trips with specific maximum lengths within a certain region (e.g. 150 km or less within Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia) either one way or round trip. There are also fixed prices for certain connections, e.g. Berlin-Hamburg in an InterRegio-Express.

Day tickets

Day tickets are valid for one day in all DB regional and local trains (S, RB, SE, RE and IRE), some private local trains and often include public transport (subway light rail and bus) in cities and allow for unlimited travel. They are often cheaper than single or return tickets. All day tickets can be purchased online and at ticket machines at railway stations. You cannot buy them from the conductor.

All of these tickets are group tickets, but can be used by a single traveller as well. There are few general rules to keep in mind:

  • The price of the ticket usually depends upon the number of travellers with a relatively high base price and a small supplement for every other member of the group up to five.
  • The ticket must bear the name of (at least) one member of the group. That person may be asked for ID. Sometimes all members of the group will have to be mentioned on the ticket.
  • Most Ländertickets are only valid for second class (although in some states they are also offered for first class for a higher price). The difference between first and second class on regional trains is small to non-existent, and some trains don't even have first class. On the other hand first class may be empty on an otherwise crowded train.

The most common day tickets are:

  • Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket (QdL). Valid for one day on all regional trains in Germany from 09:00 until 03:00 the following day. The ticket costs €44 for one person and €8 for every additional person (there is a maximum of five people in total).
  • Länder-Ticket. This ticket is valid within one federal state (Bundesland) or a collective of them (usually, a few short links across the border are included). Specific Länder-Tickets cover more than one state: a Länder-Ticket bought in either Sakse, Sakse-Anhalt of Thüringen are valid in all of those three states together, the same holds for Rynland-Palts en Saarland, while a Länder ticket bought in Sleeswyk-Holstein is also valid in Hamburg en Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, but not the other way round. The Länder-Ticket is valid between 09:00 till 03:00 the next day on working days, or between 00:00 till 03:00 the next day on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Tickets are priced differently, but expect to cash out at least €20 for one person. A few states still have flat-rate tickets that cost the same for one or groups of up to five people.
  • Cross border day tickets. In some areas a ticket is available for travel within the state or a part of it plus an adjacent region across an international border. Their conditions are often similar to the Ländertickets.

Verkehrsverbund tickets

Elkeen Verkehrsverbund het 'n single integrated tariff system. Any travel binne a single Verkehrsverbund is "local" and usually quite cheap. However any travel tussen different Verkehrsverbünde requires either a special fare (within North Rhine-Westphalia) or the full DB fare and will usually be considerably more expensive. The DB website often does not quote a price for trips entirely within one Verkehrsverbund. If you know the name of the relevant Verkehrsverbund, just go to its website and buy the ticket there. Ticket machines at train stations are usually equipped to sell tickets within a Verkehrsverbund and general DB tickets. Failing that, there are usually machines specifically for Verkehrsverbund tickets. Verkehrsverbund tickets cost the same no matter when you book.

Ticket validity varies from one Verkehrsverbund to another: usually, there is either a zone system (the further you travel, the more you pay), a time system (the longer you travel, the more you pay), or most commonly a combination of these two. Unlimited transfers between trains, buses, etc. are usually allowed as long as your ticket remains valid. Discounts may be given for return trips or groups, and one-day tickets (Tageskarte) are usually cheaper and much less hassle than single tickets, although zone limits apply to them as well. At local ticket offices ('Reisezentrum') you can often pick up brochures explaining all the details, usually with helpful maps, and occasionally even in English.

You will usually have to validate a Verkehrsverbund ticket by time stamping it at machines on platforms. If there is a stamping machine on the platform, chances are tickets need to be stamped prior to boarding. Unstamped tickets are not valid tickets. If you are caught without a valid ticket you will be fined €60 (even if you are a foreigner or first time offender). Fare inspectors won't take "I didn't have any time to buy a ticket" as an excuse.

DB trains often cross between VBs with at best a cryptic "three letter acronym (that being the Verkehrsverbund) only till X" (in German) on the display at the platform and sometimes no warning at all, and your "local" ticket stops being valid the instant you cross the invisible line. On some trains there is an announcement upon leaving a Verkehrsverbund, but don't count on it.

Ticket add-ons

Almal Sparpreis en Flexpreis tickets for long-distance trains covering a distance of more than 100km include a City-Ticket. That means your train ticket doubles as a ticket for local transport. It can though only be used to get to the station from which your train departs and from the station at your destination. (Travel within the city zone only.) City-tickets are valid in 126 cities in Germany. If your ticket mentions Stad, this option is included.

If your ticket is not eligible for the automatic free City-Ticket add-on you can add a similar option called City mobil at an extra charge. This only includes public transport at your destination in one of the about 100 participating cities. Price varies by city, and single or day tickets are available. This usually doesn't present a monetary saving, but you are spared the hassle of finding a ticket vending machine or small coins for the bus driver.

German Rail Pass

Interrail Pass
Sien ook: Europese spoorpasse

A German Rail Pass allows unlimited travel throughout Germany in all trains on 3–10 days within a month. There is an interesting "twin" discount for two people travelling together. The pass is available only for residents outside Europe, Turkey and Russia; you can purchase it on the DB website or from travel agencies outside Germany.

Eurail offers a pass for 3–10 days of travel (which do not have to be consecutive) throughout Germany.

Youth and child discounts

Children younger than 6 travel for free and don't need a ticket (but you might want to reserve seats in a Familienabteil; family compartment), children aged 6 to 14 (inclusive) can travel for free when travelling with their own parent or grandparent if that person pays a Flexpreis or Special price ticket. The number of children has to be specified when purchasing the ticket. There is also a discount for people aged below fifteen travelling in the company of someone who is not their parent or grandparent, but it is usually only 50%. Some special offers are explicitly limited to students or "young people" with a cutoff point usually in the mid twenties.

Stasies

Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the capital's main train station
DB Lounge in Munich

Train stations run the gamut from barely a shelter by the trackside to multilevel temples of transit with ample shopping (usually at least partially open on Sundays and public holidays) that are often architecturally stunning as well. In German there is a distinction between "Bahnhof" (Bhf.) and "Haltepunkt" (Hp.) with the former usually being major stations and the latter basically just a point along regular tracks where a train stops. As a rule of thumb you won't find many amenities at Haltepunkte.

Almost all major German cities have a main train station called Hauptbahnhof (Hbf). These are often in the centre of town and have accommodations, restaurants, and attractions nearby. Some larger German cities, such as Berlin and Hamburg, have more than one main line station. In some cities (most notably Kassel) long-distance trains like ICEs might stop at another station than local trains. If the city has public transit such as S-Bahn, U-Bahn, tram, or even buses, Hauptbahnhof will often be the main hub or an important secondary hub for local transit service. From major train stations you can usually hail a cab or rent a bike from a station.

Track layouts usually follow a logical pattern starting at track (Gleis) 1 with adjacent numbers corresponding to physically adjacent tracks. However, there are exceptions to this, especially at larger stations. Individual numbers may be skipped. For example in Ulm there are tracks 1-6, 25, 27 and 28, and Dortmund has tracks 2-8, 10-11, 16, 18, 20-21, 23, 26 and 31. In some cases S-Bahn tracks have high numbers and are "on the wrong side" of track 1. (e.g. Tracks 20 and 21 for S-Bahn then track 1, 2, 3 and so on). One track number will usually only be assigned once per station, even if there are multiple levels. In a complex (or unfamiliar) station allow some time for connections, especially if it says "tief" on your ticket, which can indicate an underground level on stations such as the main stations in Frankfurt or Berlin. Small towns usually have a single platform station and normally only regional and local trains stop there.

Not all train stations have toilette, especially the smaller ones including Haltepunkte. If toilets exist you usually have to pay a fee, so use the free toilets on trains while you can.

If you need to use hysbakke, plan additional time for that since they are often quite slow, busy, or broken (and you have to search a different one).

Bigger train stations usually have sluitkaste where you can store your luggage. However, only coins are accepted (change machines are provided at the entrance). Prices depend on the size of your luggage and location, and most are flat-rate within the operating day. Most of the lockers are locked with a key. As with other locker stations elsewhere, make sure you have everything you will need for the duration of when you plan to part with your bag; your session will end once you unlock the door and you will need to pay again for a new rental session to lock the door.

While most train stations were built on what was then cheap land buite the historic ou stad, subsequent development has meant that train stations are usually very close to at least one major centre of business, retail and city life and often die centre. "Sugar beet stations" as found along French high speed rail lines are very rare and even suburban stations surrounded by park & ride lots will usually have some bus service to get you to where you want to go.

Most train stations were built in the 19th century and some show very visible signs of their age. Rural stations can seem rather overbuilt for their current function and as such may sometimes be a bit sad, but there is just no likelihood of the need for gigantic coal ware houses and water tanks or for hundreds of railway workers ever coming back.

At 15 major stations across Germany, first class passengers and members of Deutsche Bahn's bahn.bonus loyalty programme who have reached comfort level (similar to frequent flyer programmes) can access DB lounges. They have comfortable seating, WiFi, free drinks, newspapers and work spaces. You're not allowed to take the newspapers with you. Berlyn, Keulen, Frankfurt, Hamburg en München main stations have lounges with special areas reserved for first class passengers only, where passengers are also served light snacks.

Passenger rights

Despite being fast, modern and highly profitable, German railways are known among Germans for delays on main lines. Long-distance trains usually do not wait for one another in case of delays, whereas most local trains normally wait for up to 5 minutes. You should not rely on connecting times of less than 15 minutes. However, if you think you might miss your connection because the train you are on is delayed, talk to a conductor on board. They may be able to arrange for the connecting train to wait a little, or give you information on other connections you can take to reach your destination.

If you miss your connection due to a delayed train, you may use another, under certain circumstances even better (e.g. ICE instead of IC) train. However, you have to speak to a member of staff before you do this.

EU Passenger Rights entitle you to a refund of 25% of the single ticket price if your train arrives at your destination an hour late, or 50% if arriving two or more hours late. However, for special day tickets for regional and local trains (for example Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket, Länder-Ticket), you only get a refund of €1.50 for delays of an hour or more. Refunds are only given if the refund value is more than €4, but you can claim a refund for multiple tickets at the same time. You can choose whether you want the refund in cash or as a voucher. It is best to get the delay confirmed by a conductor, so do so while still on the train, as they can also advise you on connections. To receive a refund you need to fill out a form (available in German and English here) and send the form and the ticket (mobile tickets need to be printed out) by mail or give it to the staff at any Reisezentrum. Your claim must be filled within one year after the delayed connection. There is no need to get the delay confirmed by the conductor, though confirmed delays may be paid out instantly at the Reisezentrum as opposed to approximately 1-2 weeks processing time otherwise.

If you miss the last train of the day due to a delay or a cancelled train and cannot continue your trip to your destination as a result, DB will either arrange an alternative way to complete the journey (like a taxi), or will arrange free overnight accommodation. However, the first step is always to contact DB (for example by speaking to the conductor on the delayed train, or personnel at the train station). Only if you cannot contact DB can you arrange for alternative transport or accommodation yourself. In such cases, a maximum of €80 is refunded. In some cases, you can also get transportation back to your initial point of departure, if the delay makes your journey otherwise pointless.

Passenger rights are laid out by European legislation and even apply in many cases of "acts of god" (e.g. bad weather, or suicides). If there is a dispute, SÖP can arbitrate between you and the railway company to find a mutually satisfactory solution (usually a reimbursement).

Accessible travel

DB has an overview of information on accessible travel(In Duits). Information about accessible travel is available daily from 06:00-22:00 on ☏0180 6512512 (in country only). Calls cost €0.20 per call from a German landline, and a maximum of €1 per call from a mobile phone. You can book assistance with boarding or changing trains up to 20:00 on the day before your trip by calling the same phone number.

DB's reisbeplanner lists which platforms are wheelchair accessible. (In the detailed view: click on show details, then station information.) Information for individual train stations is on this webpage (in German). Newer train station platforms often provide level access to trains. However, some trains (especially older ones) still have stairs.

DB is required to make an effort to make newly-built stations and newly-purchased rolling stock accessible. Existing stations are modernised and upgraded with elevators and the like whenever possible. Unfortunately, there is an exemption for small stations that don't have elevators. Local or state government sometimes pays for such modernisation. One big issue keeping full accessibility and level boarding from happening are the different platform heights. Unlike most of Europe, two platform heights have historically been common in Germany and both are still used, even with new platforms.

Fietse

Average-sized bicycle compartment on a regional train. Wheelchairs and strollers have priority.

DB's journey planner has an option (in "advanced") to toggle on "search for connections which can carry bikes".

Aan IC and EC trains bikes cost €9 extra for a day (€6 if you have a BahnCard) and you must reserve a space in advance. On international routes the cost is €10 for one journey. Long-distance trains have a special section with bike holders. Follow the bike symbols near the carriage door. Bikes are not allowed on the majority of high-speed trains (ICE, Thalys, TGV). The new fourth generation ICE, introduced in December 2017, has some bike spaces.

Aan regional and local trains you do not need a reservation and you can usually put your bike in the open area near doors. In some Verkehrsverbünde, if you have a valid ticket for yourself you can bring your bike for free at off-peak hours. For short journeys outside the Verkehrsverbund you have to buy a bike supplement ticket for €5, valid on all regional and local trains for one day. If there is no space for bicycles on the train, staff might refuse to let you on, even if you have a valid ticket. At peak times, you might have to wait for the next train. Remove any bags attached to your bicycle to reduce the space it takes up (to allow other travellers to bring their bicycle aboard too). Secure your bike so that it does not fall over, or stay close to it and hold on it. If there are folding seats at the designated bike space and people are sitting there, politely ask them to make space, which is what they are supposed to do.

DB also has a luggage service which can send your bags to any address in Germany, including islands, cruise ships and major airports. Bags can also be delivered to Austria, Switzerland and Italy. Allow at least two working days for delivery. The service also transports bikes on most routes, which may be less hassle than taking it on the train. The service itself is provided by Hermes, a German parcel delivery company.

Bly veilig

An emergency brake (Notbremse).

Train travel in Germany is very safe for train passengers. Most fatalities and serious injuries involving trains in Germany are the results of accidents at level crossings or people being on the tracks. In 2015, only around 2% of fatalities relating to train accidents were actually train passengers. There are however some security concerns:

Soos luggage isn't checked in you should always have a watchful eye on it as luggage diefstal en sakkery occur on trains from time to time. If you notice that your bag isn't where you put it, notify a conductor as they may be able to find it if it has just been put elsewhere by someone storing his/her own luggage.

The window on a German ICE. Note the red dot at the top left of the picture

There are usually emergency brakes in every car of the train and they are clearly marked in (at least) German and English as such. While pulling them without justification incurs a heavy fine (often more than €1000 for first time offenders), you are not charged if you can plausibly explain why you thought the train was in danger. Most conductors have the same right as you to pull the emergency brake and there is thus nothing gained (but maybe valuable time lost) if you ask a conductor before pulling the brake.

If for some reason the door doesn't open there is usually some mechanism to open it manually. If you can, ask a conductor before doing so, or let him/her do it for you, as sometimes these systems have to be disabled manually before the train can drive on, thus causing delays when done incorrectly.

In the unlikely event of an accident the doors may be impassable or not within reach. You can create other escape routes by breaking the windows. This is usually done by hitting the small red dot on top of the window with the red hammer. You can then safely remove the broken window. Make sure that the drop is not too deep before you exit the train.

Sien ook

Interbussebusse in Duitsland — frequently a competitor worth checking out

Dit reis-onderwerp oor Treinreise in Duitsland het gids status. Dit bevat goeie, gedetailleerde inligting wat die hele onderwerp dek. Dra asseblief by en help ons om dit 'n ster !