Putovanje željeznicom u Njemačkoj - Rail travel in Germany

Slikovita željeznička ruta preko rijeke Moselle između vinograda u blizini Traben-Trarbach.

Njemačkaželjeznički sustav je brz, pouzdan i pokriva većinu zanimljivih mjesta. Iako ulaznice kupljene u "last minute" mogu biti skupe, uz malo planiranja mogu biti i iznenađujuće jeftine. Unatoč usponu međugradski autobusi, vlakovi su i dalje tek drugi na mjestu automobila kada je u pitanju kretanje. Putovanje vlakom iz Hamburg na sjeveru do München na jugu obično traje manje od šest sati. Isto putovanje automobilom traje oko osam sati, autobus traje deset sati ili više, a niti jedna od tih brojki ne predstavlja zagušenje prometa. Nadalje, većina vlakova polazi svaki sat ili svaka dva sata, dok autobusi imaju znatno rjeđi raspored.

Prema Deutsche Bahnu, putovanje vlakom prilično je prijateljski za okoliš. U 2014. godini jedan putnički kilometar putovanja DB-vlakom emitirao je gotovo 13 puta manje CO2 nego ista udaljenost pređena automobilom. Lokalni i regionalni vlakovi emitiraju više, jer imaju tendenciju da koriste manje obnovljive energije i više dizela. DB također ima za cilj kontinuirano povećavati udio obnovljive energije u električnoj energiji koju koristi za svoje vlakove. Zapravo, zelena pruga na svim BahnCard karticama nagovještava da sve karte koje se prodaju vlasnicima BahnCard predstavljaju vlakove koji voze sa 100% obnovljivom električnom energijom.

Shvati

Hauptbahnhof u Bremen.

Putovanje vlakom na velike udaljenosti obavlja državni Deutsche Bahn. Međutim, monopol je na kraju slomljen kada Flixtrain (ista tvrtka koja upravlja Flixbusom) ušla je na tržište ključnim linijama koje su opsluživale neke od najvećih njemačkih gradova, poput Berlina i Stuttgarta, Berlina i Aachena, te Hamburga i Aachena, s jeftinijim cijenama, iako malo zastarjelim kabinama. U međuvremenu još jedan privatni operater Alex prometuje linijama između odabranih gradova u Bavarskoj i Praga u Češkoj.

Operatori iz susjednih zemalja također prometuju linijama iz jednog ili dva grada u Njemačkoj do svojih zemalja koristeći se željezničkim vozilima bilo Deutsche Bahna, bilo vlastitog. Većina ovih linija može se koristiti i za domaća putovanja, a mogu se rezervirati i na web mjestu Deutsche Bahn.

Deutsche Bahn

Deutsche Bahn upravlja velikom većinom njemačkih vlakova za velike daljine, a također prodaje karte za regionalne i lokalne vlakove kojima upravljaju druge tvrtke. Web stranica DB (koja ima lokalizirane verzije za mnoga mjesta i dostupna je barem djelomično u sustavu Windows Engleski i pol tuceta drugih jezika) izvrstan je resurs za pronalaženje željezničkih veza u cijeloj Europi, iako neke željezničke i integrirane željezničke autobusne usluge nisu na popisu. Web stranica DB prodaje karte za većinu putovanja koja potječu i / ili završavaju u Njemačkoj, ali ne za putovanje samo kroz Njemačku (na primjer, za putovanje od Pariza do Varšave morali biste kupiti kartu od Pariza do Berlina i onu od Berlina do Varšave) i neće prikazivati ​​cijene niti prodavati karte za neke međunarodne kao i nekoliko lokalnih vlakovnih veza. Web stranica DB-a uključuje mogućnost kupnje karata za njemačke željeznice, ali to i dalje može biti promašeno, a za čisto domaće karte izvan Njemačke odgovarajuća nacionalna željeznica obično je vaš najbolji izbor.

Vozni red i cijene

Vozni red i standardne cijene (Flexpreis) obično vrijede godinu dana. Novi raspored kreće na snagu svakog prosinca, obično se objavljuje sredinom listopada. DB obično povećava cijene uglavnom za međugradske vlakove s promjenom rasporeda. Verkehrsverbünde obično mijenjaju svoj raspored otprilike u isto vrijeme, ali ne uvijek istog dana. Mogu postojati prijelazna razdoblja za valjanost lokalnih karata.

Na većini ruta karte se mogu rezervirati i do 180 dana unaprijed, ali karte nakon promjene rasporeda počinju se prodavati tek nakon objavljivanja novog rasporeda. Ako želite nabaviti jeftine karte za međugradske vlakove, kupite posebne karte (poput štednijih karata) što je prije moguće. Cijena ovih ograničenih karata za daleke vlakove raste što je bliže datum polaska i možda će biti rasprodane. Međutim, većina Nijemaca ne rezervira više od tjedan dana unaprijed, uz moguću iznimku međunarodnih karata.

Cijene standardnih cijena za bilo koji vlak i posebne karte za regionalne i lokalne vlakove obično ostaju iste tijekom cijele godine (i neograničene su), pa ih možete kupiti neposredno prije vašeg putovanja.

Integrirani sustavi javnog prijevoza (Verkehrsverbund)

Pregled integriranih sustava javnog prijevoza (Verkehrsverbünde) u Njemačkoj. Žuta područja (mit SPNV) uključuju upotrebu regionalnih i lokalnih vlakova, sive zone (ohne SPNV) nemojte.

U većim urbanim područjima, lokalne prijevozničke tvrtke često čine integrirani sustav javnog prijevoza, tzv Verkehrsverbund (VB) (ili Verkehrsverbünde u obliku množine). U svakom Verkehrsverbundu sav javni prijevoz (to može uključivati ​​podzemne željeznice, gradske autobuse, gradsku željeznicu, laku željeznicu, pa čak i regionalne vlakove) može se koristiti sa zajedničkim sustavom karata i cijena. Verkehrsverbund također nudi zajednički i koordinirani raspored. Primjeri uključuju VBB oko Berlin i Brandenburg (najveći po površini), RMV oko Frankfurt, MVV oko München, ili Bodo za područje u Njemačkoj neposredno uz Bodensko jezero.

Te su mreže gradskog prijevoza često (ali ne uvijek) integrirane s DB mrežom i karte Verkehrsverbund vrijede u lokalnim vlakovima. Trend je prema većem Verkehrsverbünde s boljom integracijom željeznica i vozni red lokalnog prijevoza često se pravi s obzirom na vozni red. S-Bahn je obično "srce" a Verkehrsverbund i širenje S-Bahna u prošlosti se često podudaralo s Verkehrsverbund širenje.

Međugradski vlakovi (koji uključuju, npr. Flixtrain i sve "bijele" DB vlakove) jesu ne dio Verkehrsverbunda, što znači da putnik ne smije koristiti takve usluge za putovanje između dviju točaka u području metroa samo s kartom Verkehrsverbund.

Aplikacija DB Navigator omogućuje vam kupnju većine karata za Verkersverbund pomoću VISA / Mastercard debitne ili kreditne kartice, čak i ako nemate putovanje vlakom u velike dane u danima u kojima želite koristiti lokalni gradski prijevoz.

Popratne informacije

Njemačka ima preko 40 000 km željezničkih pruga (što je čini šestom najdužom željezničkom mrežom i jednom od najgušćih u svijetu) i stoga je nevjerojatno dobro povezana, što omogućuje povezivanje od većine ruralnih područja do velikih metropola. Nijednom njemačkom gradu s više od 100 000 stanovnika ne nedostaje željezničkih usluga, a većina gradova s ​​više od 20 000 stanovnika ima redovite željezničke usluge.

Deutsche Bahn - glavni željeznički operater u zemlji - nalazi se u neobičnom položaju. Od 1994. godine organizira se kao Aktiengesellschaft (dioničko društvo), za koje se obično očekuje da donesu dobit. Međutim, država je vlasnik svih dionica. To znači da se DB istodobno povlači u dva smjera: trebao bi se ponašati kao privatna profitna tvrtka, a također i kao državna institucija. Slijedom toga, izvršni direktor - i barem neki članovi odbora - političko je imenovanje i obično je kućno ime u Njemačkoj nedugo nakon stupanja na dužnost. Izvršnog direktora u medijima često nazivaju i neformalno kao Bahnchef ('šef željeznice'). Stoga se trenutni izvršni direktor Richard Lutz često samo zove Bahnchef Lutz.

Iako su svi operatori (uključujući DB) u teoriji slobodni voziti daljinske vlakove na bilo kojoj ruti po bilo kojoj cijeni koja im odgovara - pod uvjetom da plaćaju naknade za pristup pruzi državnom DB Netzu (koji je i sama podružnica DB-a) - situacija za lokalni vlakovi su složeniji. Savezna vlada daje određeni iznos državama koje bi trebale potrošiti na lokalne željezničke usluge. Neke države taj novac predaju lokalnom stanovništvu Verkehrsverbünde dok drugi imaju jedan veliki lonac na državnoj razini. Država ili Verkehrsverbund kojima je država dala ovlaštenje za to, tada postavlja redove vožnje i uvjete za vlakove (na primjer jedan vlak svaki sat s određenim brojem sjedala prve i druge klase, Wi-Fi i ukrcaj na razini) i pita za ponude iz cijele Europe. Obično će DB biti među ponuditeljima, ali često će drugi operatori tražiti nižu subvenciju i tako dobiti ugovor. Licitiranje za novi ugovor obično započinje prije isteka starog ugovora. Ugovorni uvjeti obično su prilično dugi: na nekim rutama DB i dalje posluje po ugovorima koji nisu bili predmet otvorenog nadmetanja ili gdje je DB bio jedini ponuditelj. To je jedan od glavnih razloga zašto je Wi-Fi vrlo rijedak u lokalnim vlakovima: operatori nisu obvezni pružiti ništa što nije predviđeno izvornim ugovorom. Ugovori su često prilično specifični i neki se promatrači šale da je jedino što željeznički operater zapravo mora odabrati shemu boja i plaće zaposlenika - što prirodno dovodi do zahtjeva za privatnom konkurencijom DB-a koja podriva DB-ove sindikalne plaće na koje još uvijek utječu bivši ugovori državnih službenika.

Vrste vlakova

Međugradski vlakovi

InterCity Express (ICE, 2. generacija) u Berlin Hauptbahnhofu.
ICE linije: ograničenja frekvencije i brzine od 2018. godine

Gotovo sve međugradske vlakove vozi Deutsche Bahn. Svi su veći gradovi povezani DB-ovim ICE (InterCity Express) i redovnim IC (InterCity) vlakovima.

  • Vlakovi InterCity Expressa (ICE). Brzi vlakovi sposoban za brzine do 320 km / h (200 mph). Stanje kolosijeka i signala, međutim, dopušta najveće brzine od samo 160 km / h (99 mph) na nemodificiranim naslijeđenim stazama, 200 km / h (120 mph) na rutama s posebnom elektroničkom opremom nazvanom "Ausbaustrecke" (željeznička pruga Berlin Hamburg je Ausbaustrecke izgrađena za 230 km / h (140 mph)), odnosno 250 km / h (160 mph) do 300 km / h (190 mph) na označenim brzinama nazvanim "Neubaustrecke". Najveća brzina od 320 km / h postiže se na putovanju od Frankfurta do Pariza u Francuskoj. Iako znatno brže nego cestovnim putem, mogu biti i skupe, uz jednosatno putovanje (Frankfurt do Köln, oko 180 km) košta do 67 eura u jednom smjeru ("Flexpreis", tj. cijena vožnje pješice bez ikakvog popusta). Međutim, ako kartu rezervirate unaprijed i pomalo prilagodite satu i datumu putovanja, možete ostvariti znatan popust. Svi domaći ICE-ovi su električni. Postoji nekoliko različitih vrsta ICE-a, ali svi su međusobno prilično slični i ne-entuzijastima se razlikuju samo po najvećoj brzini i starosti. Jedna značajna razlika je ICE 4 koji je u redovni servis uveden u prosincu 2017. godine i jedini je ICE koji nosi bicikle. Narudžba za ICE 4 bila je jedna od najvećih u povijesti DB-a i potrajat će sredinom 2020-ih prije nego što svi naručeni vlakovi uđu u promet.
  • ICE Sprinter. Isti vlakovi kao i redoviti ICE-ovi, ali oni voze bez prestanka između većih gradova ili imaju samo jedno srednje stajalište. Njihovo vrijeme putovanja je manje od četiri sata kako bi se izjednačilo ili pobijedilo vrijeme putovanja aviona od vrata do vrata. Za korištenje usluga ICE Sprinter više se ne naplaćuje, ali jeftine ulaznice za rane ptice mogu im biti oskudnije. Na primjer, putovanje ICE Sprinterom između Berlina i Münchena traje samo oko 4 sata.
  • InterCity (IC) vlakovi. Prilično ugodno, čak i ako im nedostaje visokotehnološki osjećaj ICE-a. ICE vlakovi brži su samo od IC vlakova na namjenski izgrađenim kolosijecima ili postojećim kolosijecima koji su nadograđeni. Starije IC-e lokomotive su vukle jednorazinske dionice još iz 1970-ih, ali većina je izgrađena ili obnovljena 1990-ih ili kasnije. Stari IC imaju najveću brzinu do 200 km / h. 2016. DB je predstavio mnoštvo novih dvorazinskih dionica Intercity, tzv "Međugradski 2". Imaju najveću brzinu od 160 km / h (99 mph), prilično su moderni i udobni s električnim utičnicama, zavaljenim sjedalima i uslugom grickalica i pića na svom mjestu, ali prostor za prtljagu prilično je ograničen, pa ih izbjegavajte ako imate puno stvari za ponijeti - međutim, ispod sjedala obično ima mjesta ako sve drugo zakaže. Na nekim rutama vlakove IC vuku dizel lokomotive, ali to je sve rjeđe jer se sve više ruta elektrificira, a više ruta upravlja više jedinica što otežava isključivanje pogonske snage.
  • EuroCity (EC) vlakovi. Povezuju veće europske gradove i gotovo su identični IC vlakovima. Mnogo vlakova Europske unije pružaju susjedni željeznički operateri (na primjer ruta Prag-Hamburg, kojom upravljaju češke željeznice). Iako to nema utjecaja na rezervacije i cijene, unutrašnjost vlakova može se znatno razlikovati od usporedivih njemačkih vlakova. Također, EC vlakovi, posebno oni koji putuju na vrlo velike udaljenosti, skloniji su kašnjenjima nego isključivo domaće usluge.
  • EuroCity Express vlakovi. Predstavljeni u prosincu 2017., oni samo služiti koridor Frankfurt-Milano i koridor München-Zürich sa zaustavljanjima u Švicarskoj. Za razliku od svih ostalih kategorija vlakova, postoji obavezna (ali besplatna) rezervacija i karte su vezane za određeni vlak čak i za "Flexpreis" karte (ali Flexpreis karte se mogu besplatno rezervirati za drugi vlak, ovisno o raspoloživosti). Vlakovi su švicarski nagibni vlakovi obitelji ETR 610 s najvećom brzinom od 250 km / h (160 mph). Za razliku od EC, IC i ICE, kategoriju "EuroCity Express" još uvijek ne koriste druge željeznice - čak ni švicarske i talijanske, pa će se ti vlakovi na švicarskom i talijanskom redu prikazivati ​​kao redoviti EC.
Da ti jesu pravilno čitanje zaslona: prikazuje 299 km / h.

Na glavnim linijama vlakovi ICE ili IC voze se svaki dan satno, pa čak i neki manji gradovi popularni među turistima poput Tübingen ili Heringsdorf imaju dnevne ili tjedne usluge.

Međutim, s obzirom na gornja upozorenja o najvećim brzinama određenih linija, možda biste trebali provjeriti je li ICE znatno brži od regionalnih i lokalnih vlakova prije nego što izdvojite kartu za ICE. Ipak, cijene ranih ptica često se cijene vrlo u skladu s očekivanom potražnjom, a brža putovanja obično su skuplja od putovanja s mnogo promjena ili dužim usporenim linijama između istih krajnjih točaka.

Postoje i međugradski vlakovi koje prometuju druge tvrtke osim Deutsche Bahna (vidi ispod), koji obično prelaze sekundarne rute s jeftinijim naknadama za pristup kolosijeku. Oni su obično dovoljno udobni (iako ne toliko ugodni kao ICE) i ponekad znatno jeftiniji, ali njihov način zaustavljanja može biti i znatno češći ili znatno rjeđi od usporedivih DB vlakova. Prije liberalizacije tržište međugradskih autobusa konkurencija na daljinskim linijama vlakova bila je sve veća. No budući da su autobusi uglavnom bili čak i jeftiniji od željezničkih usluga koje se natječu s DB-om, nekoliko tvrtki napustilo je tržište, odložilo planove za ulazak na njega ili znatno smanjilo svoje usluge. Budući da Flixbus sada dobro kontrolira sjeverno od devedeset posto tržišta međugradskih autobusa, oni su ujedno i glavna konkurencija DB-u na polju međugradskih vlakova.

Rezervacije sjedala

Rezervacije sjedala nisu obvezni, ali se preporučuju, pogotovo ako putujete petkom, nedjeljom ili praznikom, kada je vjerojatnost da će vlakovi biti puni. To znači s Interrail ili Eurail prolaz možete koristiti domaće ICE vlakove (uključujući vlakove Sprinter ICE, ali ne i međunarodne ICE vlakove) bez plaćanja dodatka.

Rezervacija mjesta košta 4 eura u 2. klasi i uključena je u cijenu ulaznica za 1. klasu. Rezervacije sjedala vrijede 15 minuta od trenutka polaska vlaka. Nakon tog vremena drugi putnici mogu legitimno zauzeti vaše mjesto ako ga niste zauzeli.

Ako nemate ili ne želite kupiti rezervaciju mjesta, potražite mjesto koje uopće nije rezervirano ili je rezervirano samo za dio putovanja nakon što izađete iz vlaka. Rezervacije sjedala označene su elektroničkim zaslonom iznad ili na sjedalu ili malim papirnatim natpisom na prozoru.

Ako vaš rezervirani vlak bude otkazan ili kasni, možete rezervirati svoje mjesto na drugi vlak na šalteru DB usluge ili ga vratiti putem Prava putnika zahtjev.

Sadržaji

Tamo je besplatni WiFi na gotovo svim ICE-ima, ali ne i na IC-ima. Kako se pruža putem mobilnog signala, propusnost ponekad može nedostajati. Da biste pristupili Wi-Fi mreži, samo odaberite "Wi-Fi na ICE" i program bi vas trebao provesti kroz sljedeće korake. U drugoj klasi brzina se može smanjiti nakon upotrebe od 200 MB po uređaju. Na nekim međunarodnim vlakovima Wi-Fi mreža može prestati raditi kad vlak krene iz Njemačke.

Tu je i portal za zabavu s oko 50 serija i filmova besplatno. Cijeli spektar od oko 1000 emisija i filmova dostupan je samo kupci maxdome. Kako se zabavnom portalu pristupa putem ugrađenih poslužitelja, na to ne utječe nedostatak propusnosti ili drugi potencijalni problemi s Wi-Fi mrežom. Slično tome, ICE Portal također nudi besplatne audioknjige i vijesti (uglavnom na njemačkom jeziku), kao i neke informacije o putovanju i sljedećem odredištu; također možete vidjeti gdje je vlak na karti i koliko brzo ide.

U svakom vlaku postoji bistro ili restoran, u kojem putnici mogu naručiti piće ili grickalice i uživati ​​u njima za stojećim stolom ili sjedeći. Ta pića ponekad donesu i na kolica ako želite ostati na svom mjestu. Plaćanje se može izvršiti gotovinom ili kreditnom karticom, iako potonja ponekad može biti spora ili čak ne raditi, jer terminal u potpunosti ovisi o prijemu mobitela. Cijene su jednake neznatno skupljim nego na željezničkom kolodvoru.

Sve najave i znakovi u vlakovima, uključujući stanicu koja se približava i veze od tamo, izvode se na njemačkom i engleskom jeziku. Kondukter može govoriti barem neki engleski jezik, a možda ćete ga zatražiti ako vam promakne veza ili zatreba pomoć.

Odabrani automobili u svakom vlaku mirne su kabine koje ne dopuštaju buku ili čak zvonjenje mobitela; rezervacija košta jednaka kao za sjedala u normalnom automobilu. Dostupne su i kabine za 6 osoba, ali ne mogu se rezervirati privatno, tj. 2 osobe u kabini za 6 osoba.

Prvi razred

Većina vlakova u Njemačkoj, osim nekih lokalnih vlakova, ima dionice prvog i drugog razreda. Putnici prve klase u dalekovodnim vlakovima dobivaju više mjesta (tri, a ne četiri mjesta u blizini, više mjesta za noge, sjedala koja se više zavaljuju), a - u vlakovima ICE - možete zatražiti od konduktera da vam donese piće i hranu iz vagona restorana. Piće ili hrana jesu ne uključeno u cijenu, ali rezervacija mjesta je. Putnicima druge klase obično nije dopušteno sjediti u odjeljcima prve klase. Razlika u cijenama između prve i druge klase jako varira i postoje zasebne BahnCards za prvu i drugu klasu, ali ponekad kartu prvog razreda možete dobiti za nekoliko eura više od karte za drugi razred. Prva klasa označena je brojem 1 i (prema europskom standardu) žutom trakom boje na vanjskoj strani odjeljaka prve klase. Putnici prve klase također mogu uživati ​​u salonima u odabranim salonima na glavnim njemačkim željezničkim postajama i salonima partnerskih željezničkih tvrtki izvan Njemačke za međunarodne rute.

Spavački vlakovi

DB je završio svoj voz za spavanje usluge u 2016., zamijenivši ih ograničenom količinom redovnih ICE-a koji rade noću, kao i nekim autobusima.

Glavni operater spavaćih vlakova u Njemačkoj je ÖBB, austrijska državna željeznica. Ulaznice za ono što zovu Nightjet vlakovi počinju od 29 eura za najjeftinija mjesta i ranu rezervaciju. Spavači ili last minute rezervacije prirodno su skuplji. Svaka karta za spavanje uključuje doručak i može se rezervirati putem DB web stranice. Možete rezervirati bilo što, od vlastitog pretinca s krevetom i tušem do jednog sjedala u pretincu sa šest sjedala. ÖBB modernizira svoj vozni park (od kojih su neke kupili od DB-a kad je DB izašao iz posla s noćnim vlakovima) i najavio je namjere da pokreće dodatne rute, međutim poteškoće u dobivanju regulatornog odobrenja i činjenica da ÖBB namjerava popraviti i servisirati sve vlakove u Austriji ograničavaju opseg mogućeg širenja.

Upravlja ÖBB

Suradnja s ÖBB i ostale nacionalne željeznice[ranije mrtva veza]

Ostali noćni vlakovi

Vlakovi za automobile

BahnTouristikExpress - tvrtka specijalizirana za iznajmljivanje vlakova turoperatorima i privatnim grupama željeznička služba (BTE AutoReiseZug) iz Lörrach na jugozapadu Njemačke, blizu Basel, Švicarska, i Francuzi Alzas do Hamburg-Altona tijekom cijele godine. ÖBB Nightjet također trči automobilski vlakovi (Autoreisezug) iz Beč i Innsbruck do Hamburg Altona i Düsseldorf. DB je prestao voziti vlastite vlakove za automobile (osim vlaka Sylt, koji je udaljen samo 50 minuta vožnje) 2016. godine.

Do i iz Sylt

Sylt Shuttle

Redoviti automobilski vlakovi povezuju otok Sylt s kopnom, kojim upravlja DB (pod markom Sylt Shuttle) i privatna tvrtka Autozug Sylt, podružnica američke Tvrtka za razvoj željeznica (RDC) (jedina druga veza s kopnom je trajekt iz Danske.) Cijene su im uglavnom slične, iako - kao što je noviji član tržišta Autozug Sylt pokušava podrezati DB. Za razliku od većine neregionalnih vlakova u Njemačkoj, nema popusta za unaprijed kupljenu kartu, ali postoje popusti ako kupite deset ili dvanaest karata odjednom, a za stanovnike Sylta postoji još jedan popust. Dvije tvrtke koriste iste terminale u Syltu i 1 Niebüll.

Regionalni i lokalni vlakovi

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

Regionalni i lokalni vlakovi u Njemačkoj povoljno se nazivaju njemačkom riječju Nahverkehr. Ovi vlakovi dolaze u nekoliko okusa:

  • InterRegio-Express (IRE). Najbrži tip regionalnog vlaka koji se vozi samo na nekoliko stanica. Obično prelaze veće udaljenosti od "normalnih" RE.
  • Regional-Express (RE). Poluizraziti vlakovi koji preskaču neke stanice. Na mnogim rutama ovo je najviša dostupna kategorija vlakova.
  • Regional-Bahn (RB). Posvuda se zaustavlja, osim što može preskočiti neke stanice S-Bahna.
  • S-Bahn. Prigradska mreža za grad ili gradsko područje, koje unatoč tome može pokriti prilično velike udaljenosti. Neki vlakovi S-Bahn-a jedini su vlakovi u Njemačkoj koji rutinski ne nude zahod, iako to dijelom ovisi o preciznoj regiji i liniji i sve je rjeđe.

Većina regionalnih i lokalnih vlakova vozi jednom na sat ili jednom u dva sata od 05:00 ili 06:00 do otprilike 23:00 ili čak kasnije. S-Bahn linije često imaju pomake od 30 minuta ili manje, što se može smanjiti na 15 minuta ili čak sedam i pol minuta na magistralnim rutama gdje se nekoliko linija preklapa. Između velikih gradova u glavnom gradskom području S-Bahn i regionalni vlakovi mogu se preklapati na njihovoj ruti, pružajući više mogućnosti prijevoza kada želite ići od centra grada do centra grada.

Na regionalnim vlakovima WiFi je još uvijek iznimka, a ne pravilo. Procjenjuje se da će samo oko 10% vlakova imati WiFi do 2020. WiFi nije bio zahtjev u većini trenutnih ugovora za regionalne vlakove i nema dovoljno jarbola za mobilne telefone duž linija.

Na regionalnim vlakovima prvi razred - ako je uopće dostupan - obično je prilično sličan drugoj klasi, ali takav kakav postoji obično nema rezerviranih mjesta za sjedenje u bilo kojem razredu vjerojatnije ćete dobiti mjesto u prvoj klasi na prometnim rutama. Međutim, neki operatori pokušavaju opravdati maržu za prvu klasu tako što (na primjer) osiguravaju bolja sjedala ili nagib sjedala ili rezerviraju gornju palubu na dvodijelnim zalihama za prvu klasu.

Mnoge tvrtke, osim Deutsche Bahna, voze regionalne vlakove. To se obično radi kroz ugovor s Bundesland koji im se plaćaju da voze određeni broj vlakova u određeno vrijeme i obično ti ugovori također predviđaju da DB-karte (kao npr. Ländertickets i Quer durchs Zemljišna karta) su prihvaćeni. U nekim regijama poput Schleswig-Holstein u stanici mogu biti dva, tri ili više različitih automata za prodaju karata, po jedan za svaku tvrtku. Ako sumnjate, pitajte ljude na platformi, ili još bolje osoblje DB-a. Uz vrlo rijetke iznimke, možete kupiti karte koje vrijede za vlakove koji nisu DB, sa standardnim automatima za DB, ali ne i obrnuto.

Karta željezničkih linija u Njemačkoj - podebljano znači "glavna linija", vitka znači "grana"

Rezervirano sjedenje u lokalnim vlakovima

Uglavnom ti ne mogu rezervirajte mjesto u lokalnim vlakovima. Međutim, nadoplata za prvu klasu na mnogo načina djeluje kao de facto "rezervacija mjesta", jer prva klasa gotovo nikad nije toliko puna da nema slobodnih mjesta (a očito vam karta za prvu klasu daje pravo na vožnju i u drugoj klasi). Međutim, neke prigradske linije eksperimentirale su sa rezerviranim sjedalima kao dodatna primamljivost ljudi da kupuju mjesečne ili godišnje karte. Tada mogu postojati sjedala označena brojevima i objašnjenje na njemačkom (a ponekad i na engleskom jeziku) da mjesto treba ustupiti nekome tko ima rezervaciju. U praksi je to obično problem samo tijekom jutarnjih i večernjih špica. Na nekolicini regionalnih vlakova također možete kupiti rezervaciju mjesta (samo u automatu za prodaju karata - ne putem interneta ili na šalteru) za 1 €, ali kako su ograničene, mogu se rasprodati čak i za vlakove gdje su inače dostupni.

Ostali željeznički prijevoznici

Iako je njemačko tržište željeznica godinama liberalizirano, osim DB-a postoji relativno malo željezničkih prijevoznika, a svi su mali. Također ih može biti teško koristiti - ne pojavljuju se u središnjem planeru vlakova, a Eurail propusnice za njih ne vrijede. Ipak mogu biti mnogo jeftiniji od DB-a, posebno u kratkom roku. Čini se da DB namjerno skuplja vlastite IC / ICE vlakove oko vremena polaska konkurentskih usluga na nekim rutama, pa ako se vrijeme polaska natjecanja slaže s vama, imat ćete više izbora nego inače.

Evo nekoliko primjera:

  • Alex. Alex vlakovi nude (između ostalih veza) i vezu iz München, Nürnberg ili Regensburg do Prag od 23 € u jednom smjeru ili povratne karte od 43 € (Prag Spezial). Karte se mogu kupiti u vlaku. U gotovo svim njihovim vlakovima možete kupiti grickalice i pića po vrlo povoljnim cijenama. Konačno dio talijanske nacionalne željeznice (Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane) kroz niz njemačkih podružnica.
  • Flixbus / Flixtrain, bliski monopolist u Međugradski autobusi u Njemačkoj preuzeo je dva neovisna operatora na linijama Hamburg-Köln i Berlin-Stuttgart. Naknadno su dodali uslugu Berlin-Köln. Pri rezervaciji provjerite jeste li stvarno rezervirali vlak, jer Flixbus također prodaje autobusne karte istim linijama. Planiraju proširiti svoju mrežu, uključujući proširenje usluge Berlin-Köln na Aachen i Leipzig do prosinca 2019.
    FlixTrain kočija

Osim njih, postoji nekoliko pare ili dizela baština željeznice, često koristeći staze uskog kolosijeka. Obično nisu integrirani u izdavanje ulaznica za DB ili Verkehrsverbund i mogu biti znatno skuplji po kilometru od glavnih operatora. Ljestvicu vode od ljetne sezone i vikenda samo do svakodnevnih operacija koje imaju značajnu prometnu vrijednost.

Autobusi

DB također posluje nekolicinu IC sabirnica rute. Potpuno su integrirani u DB-ov sustav za prodaju karata i karte, a sustav rezervacija prema njima postupa poput vlaka InterCity s obveznim rezervacijama slobodnih mjesta. IC autobusi uglavnom služe rutama gdje željeznička infrastruktura ne dopušta dovoljno velike brzine za brzu uslugu i obično imaju manje stajališta od paralelnih vlakova.

Lokalni autobusi su obično integrirani u bilo koji sustav karata Verkehrsverbund i DB City Ticket, koja je dostupna bez dodatnih troškova za mnoge međugradske karte s popustom na BahnCard, uključuje vožnju autobusima, tramvajima, lakom željeznicom i podzemnom željeznicom kako je primjenjivo na / od vašeg konačnog odredišta unutar grada polaska / polaska.

Flixbus, budući da je autobusna tvrtka prvenstveno prodaje karte za svoje dvije željezničke linije, kao i putem karata koje kombiniraju svoje autobuse sa vlakovima. Međutim, ne prodaju kombinirane karte s lokalnim vlakovima.

Suradnja sa zrakoplovnim kompanijama

Vidi također: Željeznički zračni savezi

Lufthansa surađuje s DB-om u ovom ili onom obliku od 1980-ih. Jedno vrijeme čak su i vozili vlastite vlakove, zajedno s Lufthansinom livrejom. Danas, AIRail omogućuje rezerviranje određenih ICE-a poput letačkog sektora (možete čak i zaraditi milje) uz prijavu na željezničkoj stanici. (Ipak, prtljagu ipak morate odnijeti na aerodromu.) Praktično su sve njemačke zračne luke povezane[mrtva veza] do glavne željezničke mreže, lokalnog tramvaja ili mreže podzemne željeznice. Nekoliko zračnih luka čak zaustavlja vlakove, ali nema redovnih letova. Obično možete kupiti prolaznu kartu sve do zračne luke putem DB-a. Mnoge zrakoplovne tvrtke koje lete u / iz njemačkih zračnih luka nude željezničke i letačke karte[mrtva veza]. Obično ih treba rezervirati zajedno s letom. Takve su karte obično jeftinije od usporedivog domaćeg leta ili čak potpuno besplatne, ovisno o zrakoplovnoj kompaniji i vrsti karte. Rail & fly omogućuje vam da vozite bilo kojim vlakom s bilo koje stanice u Njemačkoj (pa čak i nekim iz susjednih zemalja) do zračne luke (opet, čak su i neke druge njemačke zračne luke dio programa) s bilo kojim brojem promjena do jednog dana prije polaska, i da se bilo kojim vlakom od aerodroma do bilo koje stanice na povratnom putu. Rail & Fly standardna je značajka za paket aranžmane koji polaze iz Njemačke, ali ako rezervirate samo let, nekoliko zrakoplovnih kompanija koje nominalno nude rail & fly mogu malo otežati rezervaciju.

Ulaznice

Kako kupiti ulaznice

Postoji nekoliko načina za kupnju karata. Ako vas uhvate bez važeće karte, morate platiti najmanje a 60 eura kaznene karte.

Na Internetu / mobilnoj aplikaciji

Ispis internetskih ulaznica

Dugo ste morali ispisati internetsku kartu ili je prikazati putem aplikacije DB Navigator. Međutim, DB uvjeti i odredbe (6.3.2 i 6.3.3) omogućuju vam jednostavno prikazivanje PDF dokumenta (s crtičnim kodom) na mobilnom uređaju. Još uvijek mogu postojati karte koje trebate ispisati (poput rezervacija bicikala) ili će neki neupućeni inspektor ulaznica ili vozač autobusa odbiti prihvatiti PDF dokument. Ako želite biti na sigurnoj strani, tada biste trebali ispisati kartu ili je pokazati putem aplikacije.

Ulaznice možete kupiti na DB web stranica ili putem Aplikacija DB Navigator. Planer putovanja automatski će prikazati najjeftinije moguće cijene, uključujući popuste na ranu rezervaciju. Međutim, neke ponude za regionalne vlakove možda se neće prikazati ako ne uklonite kvačicu za "preferirajte brze veze" i / ili dodajte kvačicu za "samo regionalni vlakovi".

Morate ispisati kartu ili je predstaviti putem aplikacije. Prikazivanje karte kao PDF dokumenta na mobilnom uređaju može biti prihvaćeno (vidi info okvir).

Prilikom rezervacije morate navesti svoje ime (kao i one koji putuju), a karta vrijedi samo za vas i one koji putuju. Nakon pregleda karte možda ćete morati pokazati neki oblik identifikacije (putovnica ili EU osobna iskaznica, ali vozačke dozvole nisu prihvaćene) za obje vrste karata.

Na web stranici DB možete rezervirati ulaznice bez računa, međutim za aplikaciju ga morate stvoriti. Ako koristite račun na web mjestu DB-a, vaše će karte automatski biti dostupne u aplikaciji. Inače, uvijek možete unijeti broj potvrde karte i svoje prezime kako biste u aplikaciji dohvatili rezervaciju.

Ulaznice možete kupiti i putem interneta i poslati ih poštom bilo gdje u svijetu za 3,90 €. Ne morate pokazivati ​​ID dok putujete s takvim kartama, ali ako se izgube u pošti, DB ih neće zamijeniti.

Pazite se stranica turističkih agenata koje se pojavljuju prilikom pretraživanja DB web mjesta. Uvelike plaćaju pojavljivanje na vrhu rezultata pretraživanja i mogu znatno povećati troškove. Obavezno koristite službenu stranicu koja je gore navedena.

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 izvan reda, 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

Idite na 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 ne 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 čini 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 ne 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 planer putovanja, 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. Možete koristiti 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 ne entitled to use the DB Lounge in the stations.
  • Sparpreis Europa i Super Sparpreis Europa (Saver fare Europe i 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.

Druge opcije

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

Ako trebate network ticket for long-distance trains, get a European rail pass ili 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 i odaberite Only local transport opcija.

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 Saska, Saska-Anhalt ili Thüringen are valid in all of those three states together, the same holds for Falačko Porajnje i Saarland, while a Länder ticket bought in Schleswig-Holstein is also valid in Hamburg i Mecklenburg-Zapadno Pomorje, 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

Svaki Verkehrsverbund ima single integrated tariff system. Any travel unutar a single Verkehrsverbund is "local" and usually quite cheap. However any travel između 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 ulaznice. 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

svi Sparpreis i 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 Grad, 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
Vidi također: Europske željezničke prolaze

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.

Kolodvori

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 zahodi, 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 dizala, 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 ormarići 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 izvana the historic stari Grad, 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 centar. "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 udobnost 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. Berlin, Köln, Frankfurt, Hamburg i 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 povrat novca 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(na njemačkom jeziku). 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 planer putovanja 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.

Bicikli

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".

Na 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.

Na regional and local trains you do not need a reservation and you can usually put your bike in the open area near doors. U nekim 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 bicikle 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.

Ostati siguran

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:

Kao prtljaga isn't checked in you should always have a watchful eye on it as luggage krađa i džeparenje 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.

Vidi također

Međugradski autobusi u Njemačkoj — frequently a competitor worth checking out

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