Trains: Traveling by Rail
German trains are clean, comfortable, reliable and fast. Between the downtown areas of most German cities the travel time by train is as fast or faster than the travel time by plane, when you calculate in the time it takes to get to and from the airport.
Germany's privatized national railway, the Deutsche Bahn, features the super-fast InterCity Express (ICE) trains. They zoom around the country at hourly and two-hourly intervals and link up all major cities. Transferring from one of them to another is usually just a matter of crossing the station platform and speeding off again within minutes of your arrival.
The ICE trains are quiet and fully air-conditioned with reclining seats, tables at seats, dining and bistro cars. And they are fast. An ICE line connects Frankfurt and Cologne in only 58 minutes. The catch is that the ICE trains cost more to ride.
Trains similar to the ICEs, with the same internationally stipulated quality standards, connect Germany with the major cities of neighboring countries. They are called EuroCity (EC) trains.
The ICE trains have laptop connections and repeaters to make use of cell phones easy. And they have special compartments for handicapped travelers and travelers with babies. Reservations are highly recommended for special features such as the repeaters or baby and handicapped compartments. Seats on the trains can be reserved, for a fee of €4, as much as three months in advance. A reservation is also recommended on ICE and EC trains if you plan to travel on summer weekends or during holiday periods.
CityNightLine (CNL) trains are sleepers with berths and reclining seats. There are now 11 of them operating between Berlin-Zurich, Dresden-Zurich, Hamburg-Zurich, Zurich-Amsterdam, Munich-Amsterdam, Norddeich Mole-Zurich, Stuttgart-Dresden, Basel-Binz, Basel-Copenhagen. Vienna-Amsterdam, Dresden-Munich and Prague-Amsterdam . They usually reach the destination city before the first plane of the day does.
Not only is train travel often faster than air travel, it is also more reliable. Air travel is more subject to weather-related delays. Because of this, major efforts are being made to integrate air and rail travel. ICE trains stop at the Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and Köln-Bonn airports.
Rail is often faster than driving, too, and much more relaxing. On the trains you can do some work, read the paper, snooze or enjoy a sandwich and beer. And downtown parking is no problem.
All this and a price structure that many travelers find attractive. It is aimed at luring people away from their private cars, and from those cut-rate airlines that are making life difficult for the railroad and the traditional airlines.
The price of long-distance rail travel is lower than it used to be (though short distances cost more) and there are other ways of saving for the savvy traveler. Major features here are the "Sparpreis 50" and the "Sparpreis 25." To be eligible for these fares you are restricted to a particular day and train and you have to start and end your journey from the same train station.
Under the "Sparpreis 50" you pay only half the normal fare but you can only travel on weekends.
With the "Sparpreis 25" you get 25 percent off your ticket, but you aren't restricted to weekend travel. You must buy your Sparpreis tickets 3 days in advance and it must be a round trip ticket.
Only a certain number of seats on a train, and very few during peak travel times, are set aside for the "Sparpreises." To get the "Sparpreis" you must specify the train on which you intend to travel. And be warned that this does not constitute a reservation. You must make that separately and pay the fee. You can do all this by telephone with the nationwide service line (11861) or on the Internet in English at www.bahn.de.
There are also three BahnCards that will get you reductions. With the so-called "BahnCard 25" you pay three-quarters of the ticket price, with the "BahnCard 50" you pay half price, and with the "BahnCard 100" you pay nothing except the price of the card.
The "BahnCard 25" costs €57 second class and €114 first class. It is worth the price if you spend more than €200 per year on second class train travel. The "BahnCard 50" costs €225 second and €450 first. The "BahnCard 50," is half price for your spouse or partner, children (from ages 6 to 17), students under age 27, the severely handicapped and seniors over 60. It cannot be be used together with other "Savings" fare offers. The "BahnCard 100" costs €3,650 second and €6,150 first.
Another way of saving is with the "Happy Weekend Ticket." With it up to five persons traveling together or parents traveling their children under the age of 14 on Saturdays or Sundays may cover any distance they wish second class on local trains. The cost is €37 if the ticket is bought online or from a ticket machine, €39 at the ticket window.
Non-European visitors can save a lot with a "Eurailpass," which is good for unlimited travel on most European railroads; or with a "German Rail Pass," which is good likewise within Germany. The catch is that the non-European must purchase these tickets before leaving home.
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Traveling with a Bike
You cannot take a bike on an ICE (InterCity Express) train unless it is a storable, folding bike, which are becoming very popular for everyday use in urban areas in Germany. You can take a bike on all the following trains: IC (Inter City) Interregio-Express (IRE), Regional-Express (RE), Regionalbahn (RB) and S-Bahn (light rail), but there are stipulations that vary from region to region and there are time restrictions for some as well (usually during rush hour). Most trains have compartments for bikes, but it is strictly first come, first served. If traveling in high season on an IC, it is advisable to reserve a space for your bike several days before your trip when traveling on heavily frequented routes. Trains with lighter travel usually always have enough room to accommodate your 2 wheels. Check train configuration posters on the platform to find-out which train car is designated for bicycles. The designated car is usually found in the front and/or at the back of each train.
Buy your ticket before boarding!
You can still purchase tickets from conductors on ICE trains if necessary, for an extra fee, either with cash or by credit card. But for all other trains you must purchase your ticket before boarding, otherwise you will be subject to a heavy fine on top of your ticket purchase. There are automats for ticket purchases and you can always still use the old fashion method - going to the ticket counter. If using the automats, be ready with your EC bank card or your credit card with PIN. Normally you will need about 5-7 minutes, maybe 10 for your first purchase. Step 1: change the automats language to English.
Seven ways to purchase a ticket: http://www.bahn.de
Online ticket booking tips: http://www.bahn.de
Traveling with small children and/or baby?
Deutsche Bahn (German Rail) offers great Mutter/Klein Kind (mother and small child) compartment that is spacious enough for up to 2 large baby wagons and has overhead storage for large bags as well as a little extra floor space. There is plenty of legroom for most seats and there is a table with wrap-around bench seating. When purchasing your tickets at a ticket counter or by phone, ask for it specifically and be sure to inquire what generation train car the ICE is. First and Second generation cars do not have this compartment. Instead, extra seating is provided in normal, 6 person compartments, when space is available. Only Third generation ICE's (the newest) have this Mutter/Klein Kind compartment and are often completely reserved as a result. Book early and be sure to ask for a 3rd generation ICE with Mutter/Klein Kind abteilen. A week in advance should be adequate to secure a comfortable seat for you and child or children. Note: this is not just for mothers. Anyone traveling with a baby or small child may reserve these seats.
