Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [702]
Most train stations have coin-operated lockers ranging in cost from €1 to €4 per 24-hour period. Larger stations have staffed left-luggage offices (Gepäckaufbewahrung), but these are more expensive than lockers. If you leave your suitcase overnight, you’re charged for two full days.
Click here for details on taking your bicycle on the train.
Classes
German trains have 1st and 2nd class cars, both of them modern and comfortable. Paying extra for 1st class is usually not worth it, except perhaps on busy travel days (eg Friday, Sunday afternoon and holidays) when 2nd-class cars can get very crowded. Seating is either in compartments of up to six people or in open-plan carriages with panoramic windows. On ICE trains you’ll enjoy such extras as reclining seats, tables, free newspapers and audio systems in your armrest. Newer generation ICE trains also have individual laptop outlets, unimpeded cell phone reception in 1st class and, on some routes, wi-fi access.
Trains and stations are completely nonsmoking. ICE, IC and EC trains are fully air-conditioned and have a restaurant or self-service bistro.
For details about sleeper cars, Click here.
Costs
Standard, non-discounted train tickets tend to be quite expensive, but promotions, discounted tickets and special offers become available all the time. Always check www.bahn.de for the latest rail promotions. Permanent rail deals include the Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket and Ländertickets.
SCHÖNES-WOCHENENDE-TICKET
The ‘Nice-Weekend-Ticket’ is Europe’s finest rail deal. It allows you and up to four accompanying passengers (or one or both parents or grandparents plus all their children or grandchildren up to 14 years) to travel anywhere in Germany on one day from midnight Saturday or Sunday until 3am the next day for just €37. The catch is that you can only use IRE, RE, RB and S-Bahn trains in 2nd class, plus local buses and other forms of public transport.
LÄNDERTICKETS
These are essentially a variation of the Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket, except that they are valid any day of the week and are limited to travel within one of the German states (or, in some cases, also in bordering states). Prices vary slightly from state to state but are in the €26 to €34 range. Some states also offer cheaper tickets for solo travellers costing between €18 and €25. Night passes, valid from 6pm until 6am the following day, are available in Berlin-Brandenburg and Bavaria. Travel is always in 2nd class, except in Berlin-Brandenburg and Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania where 1st class versions are available. See the destination chapters for details about specific passes.
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A PRIMER ON TRAIN TYPES
Here’s the low-down on the alphabet soup of trains operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB):
InterCity Express (ICE) Long-distance, space-age bullet trains that can reach a top speed of 300km/h, stop at major cities only and run at one- or two-hour intervals.
InterCity (IC), EuroCity (EC) Long-distance trains that are slower than the ICE (up to 200km/h); also run at one- and two-hour intervals and stop in major cities. EC trains go to major cities in neighbouring countries.
InterRegio-Express (IRE) Slower medium-distance trains connecting cities and linking local with long-distance trains.
City Night Line (CNL) Night trains with sleeper cars and couchettes.
RegionalBahn (RB) Local trains, mostly in rural areas, with frequent stops; the slowest in the system.
Regional Express (RE) Local trains with limited stops that link rural areas with metropolitan centres and the S-Bahn.
StadtExpress (SE) Local trains primarily connecting cities and